Yoghurt good for people living with AIDS
http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/goodhealth/2007/dec/04/
goodhealth-04-12-2007-001.htm

By ROSE EJEMBI, Makurdi
Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Truly, Asiwaju Isaac Akinkunmi is not a doctor. He is not even a
scientist – perhaps by conventional definition. At best, you can call
him a researcher or a reporter who has merely applied investigative
journalism, coupled with over 20 years experience in the food
industry, 80 per cent of which is spent and still being spent in the
dairy industry to delve into what experts have discovered about
yoghurt.

In this presentation, the Managing Director and Chief Executive
Officer (MD/CEO) of Tito Group of Companies put paid to the
insinuation that milk or yoghurt makes one fat.

Milk or yoghurt does not make one fat. Before answering this
question, permit me to digress a little to correct a popular dogma
that yoghurt makes you fat. This is a fallacy. Yoghurt or indeed,
milk does exactly the opposite. You can gain weight by abstaining
from it and shed it by including it in your diet. As reported, in the
July 2002 edition of Readers Digest, Zamel, a renowned researcher on
yoghurt discovered that yoghurt actually slims one down through the
activity of calcium, which is richly contained in milk. This is how
it works. Calcium has inhibitory effect on fat cells. When the level
of calcium in the blood is high, the fat cells are inhibited from
storing calories; instead they start burning off fat. The interesting
thing in this discovery is that as far as weight loss is concerned,
it does not matter whether the milk or yoghurt is full cream.

However, taking yoghurt made from skimmed or partially skimmed milk
would have an even greater effect on weight reduction. We can,
therefore, say more yoghurt makes for more calcium and more calcium
makes for less fat cells and less fat cells make for less fat people.
This is not, however, to say weight watchers should embark on yoghurt
diet only. For quick result, it must be backed up with some physical
exercises and abstinence from some kinds of foods. Permit me to
borrow from mathematical equations to propound without any fear of
equivocation that yoghurt + exercise – some kinds of foods = weight
loss. Y + E + S = WL where S stand for other kinds of fatty foods.

Let us leave Zamel, the researcher alone and come back home to
question the veracity of this question. Let us look at our own local
Fulanis. These people, though unschooled, perhaps form one of the
most healthy tribes in Nigeria . They are generally slim, healthy and
robust looking people.

Three things we believe were responsible for this. One, their diet,
like the Maasias of east Africa is 70 per cent combination of
fermented milk (defatted) and fresh milk.

Two, though the main source of cows and meat to Nigerians, their
regular meals contain no meat. Read meat, a great source of bad
cholesterol is, therefore, eliminated from their diets.

Three, another likely cause for this healthy living is that the
Fulanis are great trekkers, covering between five and 10 kilometers
daily to hawk milk or graze. A lot of fat is burnt by this life style.

Their infants, unlike infants of other Nigerian tribes in their level
of income, are generally healthy looking. Robust and only comparable
to infants on baby friendly-feeding and the Fulanis do not know this
concept neither do they know vitamins or nutritional supplements.
Their old men and women are equally agile and seem to age in reverse
when compared with their town dweller age groups who scarcely have
yoghurt in their diets. This made us to propound this hypothesis and
we invite you to join us to prove it that `the bush Fulanis live
healthier lives, live longer and many times less likely to suffer
osteoporosis, obesity, diabetes, stroke, or other forms of
cardiovascular diseases and a breakdown of immune functions than
other Nigerian tribes.

Antibiotic induced diarrhea?
Let us put in focus the place of probiotic yoghurt in antibiotic-
induced diarrhea. To forge ahead, we shall now define yoghurt and
more appropriately probiotic.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines yoghurt as coagulated
milk product, produced by means of specific micro-organisms. The
fermentation process in probiotic yoghurt produces billions of
friendly bacteria that are antagonistic to a wide range of pathogens
especially in the gut.

Probiotic yoghurt is produced by the marriage of bacteria to milk. It
is manufacturered by lactic-acid fermentation through the activities
of lactobacillus bulgaricus, streptococcus thermophilis,
bifidobacterium and lactobacillus acidophilus.

What has this got to do with antibiotic-induced diarrhea?
To do justice to this question and to see the place of probiotic
yoghurt as remedy, we should first put into perspective the Gastro
Intestinal Tract (GIT) of Humans. The Gastro Intestinal Tract (GIT)
is the primary interface between food consumed and humans. According
to Chr. Hansen LAB, world largest producers of friendly bacteria and
culture partners to Tito yoghurt, the GIT of an adult human contains
over 100 trillion micro-organisms. That's over 1000 times the
population of man on the face of the earth. They are made up of over
400 different species, which, according to Rebecca Wood, writing for
Mail Tribune in India, weighs about two pounds. This complex micro-
flora exists as a delicate balance of beneficial and potentially
harmful organisms. This makes up the intestinal micro-flora and it is
the seat of the immune system working to metabolize or anabolism the
food we eat to give us the fuel needed to do our daily activates or
build tissues.

A well-balanced intestinal flora is, therefore, the beginning of good
health. It is involved in one's nutritional status, and affects aging
and immune system function. A balanced intestinal micro-flora is one
in which a healthy balance is maintained between the friendly and the
harmful bacteria in the gut.

What are probiotics?
We shall answer this question in the Nigerian way by asking another
question. What are antibiotics?
Ian Morgan, General Manager of Chris Hansen, said recently in Chris
Hansen News letter that probiotics literarily means `for life' and it
is the opposite of antibiotics. Antibiotics are drugs doctors
prescribe to kill bacteria after they have caused infection.
Probiotics, on the other hand, are not drugs but specially engineered
foods that friendly, healthy bacteria are deliberately introduced to
fight harmful bacteria before they settle down in your system to
cause harm.

Probiotics and HIV positives
Probiotic yoghurt is an excellent addition to the meals of people
living with HIV Good intestinal micro-flora and its positive effect:
By maintaining a well balanced intestinal flora, foods taken are well
metabolized to ensure good nutritional status and drugs taken have
fertile grounds to perform the jobs they are sent for. This delays
the unset and progression of AIDS. Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) must
be backed by good nutrition to succeed.

The effect of friendly bacteria:
The inhibitory effects of friendly bacteria in probiotic yoghurt
especially the activities of lactobacillus acidophilus on pathogens
can prevent numerous opportunities infections from taking hold as
explain earlier.

Omega 3 fatty acid and calcium:
Probiotic yoghurt is a high protein diet as a milk product with high
reputation for rich natural calcium which is important to build
muscles, bone mass and tissues lost by repeated infections. As a
fermented product, it generates new nutrients including omega 3 fatty
acids. This delays the unset and progression of AIDS.
Well tolerated: As a fermented milk product, it is well tolerated
even by people allergic to milk. I mean people who are lactose
intolerant. Fermentation breaks down the lactose to lactic-acid which
is metabolically acceptable to people of all ages. ART may not work
in the same way for all people but good nutrition will.

Other clinical values of probiotic yoghurt
Probiotic yoghurt has many other clinical values, too numerous to
mention in this paper. They include inhibitory effects on tumor
especially colon cancer. Others include diarrhea prevention.
Michael T. Murray, writing in Encyclopedia of nutritional
supplements, recommends acidophilus supplementation as important for
preventing and treating antibiotic induced diarrhea, candida
overgrowth, and urinary tract infection. It can correct the increase
of gram-negative bacteria observed following administration of broad
spectrum antibiotics. It equally inhibits the lowering of fecal flora
induced by ampicillin. A dosage of between 15 and 20 billion
organisms, he said, is required. And this should continue long after
the antibiotic therapy is discontinued.

AYURVEDIC TREATMENT OF AIDS
http://www.lifepositive.com/Body/body-holistic/AIDS/aids-drugs.asp

Ayurvedic practitioner Dr G. Shanthakumar, based in Mumbai, India,
claims that ayurveda identified AIDS over 2,000 years ago. The
ancient malady was termed Rajayakshma (the king of diseases) and its
symptoms were identical to AIDS going by the descriptions of Vagbhata
in Ashtanga Hridayam (Chikitsitam section) and its supplementary
text, the Ashtanga Sangraham, as well as in another ayurvedic
classic, Charaka Samhita (Nidanam section).

The major symptoms are: (1) drastic loss of weight (2) fatigue and
lethargy (3) susceptibility to allergies and contagious diseases (4)
skin irritations (5) bronchial disorders, often leading to
tuberculosis of the lungs (6) damage to intestinal flora resulting in
diarrhoea, dysentery, gastritis and (7) wide fluctuations in body
temperature.

Significantly, the root causes of this disease are: (1) unhygienic
sexual practices such as anal intercourse (2) indiscriminate
intercourse with multiple partners (3) not cleaning the genitals
after coitus (4) washing the body with contaminated or dirty water
(5) bestiality, and (6) contaminated blood.
Top

Despite this, whether AIDS and Rajayakshma are the same disease is a
contentious issue. Dr Shanthakumar, however, believes they are and
says the treatment used for Rajayakshma can be applied fruitfully in
the war against HIV/AIDS.

Initially, the patient is given tonics and rejuvenators (Rasayanams)
to boost immunity levels. Subsequently, select medicines to counter
the virus are administered. Ajamamsa Rasayanam (prepared from cow's
milk, ghee and an extract of goat's meat) and Indukantham Ghritham
are given to strengthen the system and stimulate appetite.

Later, Rasasindoor (prepared with purified mercury) is applied along
with some medicines that impart strength. "This treatment regimen is
followed for six months and usually shows good results, depending on
the severity of the case and associated parameters," says Dr
Shanthakumar. The success could be provisional, though. The virus may
continue to lurk in the body, but it is unable to do further damage
because of the bolstered immune response. The individual may then
live out his normal life span.

If the patient begins to recover, shodhana (elimination) techniques
are used to expel toxins from the body through enemas, purgation and
emesis. The medications administered at this stage are not hard, hot
or drastic, but soft, ghee-based and eco-friendly so that the patient
withstands them with ease. As overall immunity improves, the blood is
purified with cooling medications.

Once the blood has been purified, a strengthening, non-vegetarian
diet along with ghee preparations and soups is recommended. But
spicy, oily and acidic foods are to be avoided. A little alcohol is
recommended as anupana (carrier) to aid the digestive process, and
also remove blockages in the blood vessels, i.e. srothorodham.

The patient is bathed twice or thrice a day with cold water, followed
by applications of sandalwood paste on the body. The baths cool the
body and blood while sandalwood purifies by penetrating the
follicles.

"Heated blood is also said to weaken, and even destroy, the virus in
some cases. If the patient is incapable of exercising or running due
to weakness, then steaming (swedanam) is recommended," Dr
Shanthakumar discloses.

The Healed Ones
Dr Shanthakumar first treated an AIDS victim in 1992: "About eight
years ago, an AIDS patient met me. I applied the ayurvedic therapy
keeping his symptoms in mind. He would collapse with high temperature
once a week, though he did not harbor malarial parasites. After a
month's treatment, the fever and shivering subsided. After three
months, his weight increased from 43 kg to 48 kg. After ten months,
he tested negative for HIV.

"I then became confident about treating AIDS. Through my first
patient, two others came to me and were both equally successful. But
I never cure. I simply assure a longer lifespan with a constitution
and metabolism that functions as close to normal as possible. Out of
the 64 patients I have treated in the past eight years, 43 are
leading healthy, normal lives. Of course, three of my patients died,
possibly because they had reached the last stage."

--- In aash_4all@yahoogroups.com, "Dr. Avnish Jolly"
<avnishjolly@...> wrote:
>
> Ayurveda can help prevent AIDS
> http://www1.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/articleshow?
> art_id=11079993
> 26 May 2002, 1907 hrs IST,PTI
>
> NEW DELHI: Ayurveda can help in preventing AIDS by strengthening
the
> body's defence system through herbs and a supplementary code of
> conduct, doctors at a recent meeting of international policymakers
on
> HIV here, said.
> "Apart from 'Achaar Rasayan' (code of conduct), the ancient system
of
> Indian medicine provides for a whole range of herbs for the
> prevention of AIDS through strengthening the immune system," Naveen
> Gupta, president of Ashtvaidyan Ayurveda, an NGO of Ayurvedics,
told
> the International Policy Makers Conference on HIV/AIDS 'Towards a
> world without AIDS', which concluded here recently.
> Some of the herbs found useful in the prevention process included
> amla ( Emblica officinalis ), bala ( Sida cordifolia ), haritaki (
> Terminalia chabula ), nirgundi ( Vitex nirgundo ) and amrita (
> Tinospora wedifolia ), Gupta said.
> The code of conduct or Ayurveda lifestyle prohibits organised
> commercial sex or even casual sex with unknown partners, he said.
> "The basis of Ayurveda lies in prevention, strengthening the body's
> defence system and self-repair mechanism to enable the individual
to
> resist the disease process," he said.
> Gupta said the goal of Ayurveda was to preserve health, prevent
> disease and promote longevity of life with the help of prescribed
> regimen of diet and lifestyle including sex behaviour pattern. "The
> prevention of AIDS benefits no one except the patients," he said,
> adding, cure only benefits pharmaceutical lobbies and health
> maintenance organisations.
> --- In aash_4all@yahoogroups.com, "Dr. Avnish Jolly"
> <avnishjolly@> wrote:
> >
> > Ayurveda takes on allopathy in AIDS fight
> >
>
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2002/10/22/stories/200210220253010
> > 0.htm
> > P.T. Jyothi Datta
> >
> > NEW DELHI, Oct. 21
> >
> > IT may not be long before a certain green-eyed Bollywood diva or
> the
> > man who almost won India an Oscar Award this year are roped in to
> > spread awareness on AIDS in the country. But this and much more
are
> > on the anvil in the anti-AIDS segment, with Maharashtra-based
> > Veronica Laboratories Ltd (VLL) set to take on the Goliaths of
> > the "highly-cartelised" drug industry with Herbtab, an herbal
anti-
> > AIDS drug.
> >
> > Mumbai-based Enpee Healthcare Ltd owns Herbtab. But its marketing
> > would be spearheaded by the Rs 22-crore VLL, following a 10-year
> > marketing deal that VLL recently inked with Enpee. India alone
has
> an
> > estimated 3.8 million HIV positive people - , but VLL has no easy
> > road ahead as it seeks to propel itself into the drug industry's
> big
> > league.
> >
> > Given the stiff competition from allopathic counterparts, Mr
Bipin
> > Shah, MD, VLL, told Business Line that Herbtab would be supported
> by
> > social marketing in India, tie-ups abroad and public interests
> > campaigns. Domestic pharma big daddies to contend with in this
> > segment include: Ranbaxy, Cipla, Aurbindo and Hetero, while
> > GlaxoSmithKline is among the biggest global players.
> >
> > "Herbtab is born out of Ayurvedic and Unani therapies and has no
> > toxic elements or side-effects. Unlike the allopathic anti-AIDS
> > cocktail that need to be taken life-long - Herbtab needs to be
> taken
> > only for 12 to 15 months. It strengthens the immune system by
> > facilitating increase in CD4 blood cells, vital for immunity. And
> > this has been proved in clinical trials," he claimed.
> >
> > Priced at Rs 10 per tablet, the dosage per patient is three
tablets
> > taken three times a day or about Rs 2,700 per month. "Allopathic
> > drugs cost between Rs 1,000 to Rs 20, 000 per month, per patient.
> And
> > yet, anti-AIDS drugs clocked a sales of only Rs 30 crore last
> year,"
> > he points out.
> >
> > Cost to patient being of paramount concern, VLL seeks to network
> with
> > non-governmental organisations and government-run institutions to
> > make Herbtab available to the consumer at one-third the cost, Mr
> Shah
> > informs
> >
> > Multi-centre Phase III trials, at an Rs 5-crore budget, are being
> > negotiated with premier government institutes in New Delhi,
> Bangalore
> > and the North East. After successful trials at Mumbai's KEM
> Hospital,
> > Herbtab is available in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra
Pradesh.
> It
> > would be available nationally in three months.
> >
> > Roping in Bollywood
> >
> > VLL has roped in Dr Jabbar Patel, director of Bollywood-flick
> > Ambedkar, for a documentary on AIDS, expected to feature silver
> > screen's biggest names. In the past, Shabana Azmi and more
> recently,
> > Madhuri Dixit had featured in anti-AIDS campaigns. But the
> grapevine
> > has it that film world's leading model-turned-actress and actor-
> > turned-producer may be roped in this time. Unwilling to spill the
> > beans, Mr Shah revealed that different regions would have their
> > respective matinee-idols in the documentary. Meanwhile, public
> > interest campaigns, to be aired in a month, are being done by
> > Avishkar Advertising Services.
> >
> > Send this article to Friends by E-Mail
> > Comment on this article to BLFeedback@
> >
>

Ayurveda can help prevent AIDS
http://www1.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/articleshow?
art_id=11079993
26 May 2002, 1907 hrs IST,PTI

NEW DELHI: Ayurveda can help in preventing AIDS by strengthening the
body's defence system through herbs and a supplementary code of
conduct, doctors at a recent meeting of international policymakers on
HIV here, said.
"Apart from 'Achaar Rasayan' (code of conduct), the ancient system of
Indian medicine provides for a whole range of herbs for the
prevention of AIDS through strengthening the immune system," Naveen
Gupta, president of Ashtvaidyan Ayurveda, an NGO of Ayurvedics, told
the International Policy Makers Conference on HIV/AIDS 'Towards a
world without AIDS', which concluded here recently.
Some of the herbs found useful in the prevention process included
amla ( Emblica officinalis ), bala ( Sida cordifolia ), haritaki (
Terminalia chabula ), nirgundi ( Vitex nirgundo ) and amrita (
Tinospora wedifolia ), Gupta said.
The code of conduct or Ayurveda lifestyle prohibits organised
commercial sex or even casual sex with unknown partners, he said.
"The basis of Ayurveda lies in prevention, strengthening the body's
defence system and self-repair mechanism to enable the individual to
resist the disease process," he said.
Gupta said the goal of Ayurveda was to preserve health, prevent
disease and promote longevity of life with the help of prescribed
regimen of diet and lifestyle including sex behaviour pattern. "The
prevention of AIDS benefits no one except the patients," he said,
adding, cure only benefits pharmaceutical lobbies and health
maintenance organisations.
--- In aash_4all@yahoogroups.com, "Dr. Avnish Jolly"
<avnishjolly@...> wrote:
>
> Ayurveda takes on allopathy in AIDS fight
>
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2002/10/22/stories/200210220253010
> 0.htm
> P.T. Jyothi Datta
>
> NEW DELHI, Oct. 21
>
> IT may not be long before a certain green-eyed Bollywood diva or
the
> man who almost won India an Oscar Award this year are roped in to
> spread awareness on AIDS in the country. But this and much more are
> on the anvil in the anti-AIDS segment, with Maharashtra-based
> Veronica Laboratories Ltd (VLL) set to take on the Goliaths of
> the "highly-cartelised" drug industry with Herbtab, an herbal anti-
> AIDS drug.
>
> Mumbai-based Enpee Healthcare Ltd owns Herbtab. But its marketing
> would be spearheaded by the Rs 22-crore VLL, following a 10-year
> marketing deal that VLL recently inked with Enpee. India alone has
an
> estimated 3.8 million HIV positive people - , but VLL has no easy
> road ahead as it seeks to propel itself into the drug industry's
big
> league.
>
> Given the stiff competition from allopathic counterparts, Mr Bipin
> Shah, MD, VLL, told Business Line that Herbtab would be supported
by
> social marketing in India, tie-ups abroad and public interests
> campaigns. Domestic pharma big daddies to contend with in this
> segment include: Ranbaxy, Cipla, Aurbindo and Hetero, while
> GlaxoSmithKline is among the biggest global players.
>
> "Herbtab is born out of Ayurvedic and Unani therapies and has no
> toxic elements or side-effects. Unlike the allopathic anti-AIDS
> cocktail that need to be taken life-long - Herbtab needs to be
taken
> only for 12 to 15 months. It strengthens the immune system by
> facilitating increase in CD4 blood cells, vital for immunity. And
> this has been proved in clinical trials," he claimed.
>
> Priced at Rs 10 per tablet, the dosage per patient is three tablets
> taken three times a day or about Rs 2,700 per month. "Allopathic
> drugs cost between Rs 1,000 to Rs 20, 000 per month, per patient.
And
> yet, anti-AIDS drugs clocked a sales of only Rs 30 crore last
year,"
> he points out.
>
> Cost to patient being of paramount concern, VLL seeks to network
with
> non-governmental organisations and government-run institutions to
> make Herbtab available to the consumer at one-third the cost, Mr
Shah
> informs
>
> Multi-centre Phase III trials, at an Rs 5-crore budget, are being
> negotiated with premier government institutes in New Delhi,
Bangalore
> and the North East. After successful trials at Mumbai's KEM
Hospital,
> Herbtab is available in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
It
> would be available nationally in three months.
>
> Roping in Bollywood
>
> VLL has roped in Dr Jabbar Patel, director of Bollywood-flick
> Ambedkar, for a documentary on AIDS, expected to feature silver
> screen's biggest names. In the past, Shabana Azmi and more
recently,
> Madhuri Dixit had featured in anti-AIDS campaigns. But the
grapevine
> has it that film world's leading model-turned-actress and actor-
> turned-producer may be roped in this time. Unwilling to spill the
> beans, Mr Shah revealed that different regions would have their
> respective matinee-idols in the documentary. Meanwhile, public
> interest campaigns, to be aired in a month, are being done by
> Avishkar Advertising Services.
>
> Send this article to Friends by E-Mail
> Comment on this article to BLFeedback@...
>

Ayurveda takes on allopathy in AIDS fight
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2002/10/22/stories/200210220253010
0.htm
P.T. Jyothi Datta

NEW DELHI, Oct. 21

IT may not be long before a certain green-eyed Bollywood diva or the
man who almost won India an Oscar Award this year are roped in to
spread awareness on AIDS in the country. But this and much more are
on the anvil in the anti-AIDS segment, with Maharashtra-based
Veronica Laboratories Ltd (VLL) set to take on the Goliaths of
the "highly-cartelised" drug industry with Herbtab, an herbal anti-
AIDS drug.

Mumbai-based Enpee Healthcare Ltd owns Herbtab. But its marketing
would be spearheaded by the Rs 22-crore VLL, following a 10-year
marketing deal that VLL recently inked with Enpee. India alone has an
estimated 3.8 million HIV positive people - , but VLL has no easy
road ahead as it seeks to propel itself into the drug industry's big
league.

Given the stiff competition from allopathic counterparts, Mr Bipin
Shah, MD, VLL, told Business Line that Herbtab would be supported by
social marketing in India, tie-ups abroad and public interests
campaigns. Domestic pharma big daddies to contend with in this
segment include: Ranbaxy, Cipla, Aurbindo and Hetero, while
GlaxoSmithKline is among the biggest global players.

"Herbtab is born out of Ayurvedic and Unani therapies and has no
toxic elements or side-effects. Unlike the allopathic anti-AIDS
cocktail that need to be taken life-long - Herbtab needs to be taken
only for 12 to 15 months. It strengthens the immune system by
facilitating increase in CD4 blood cells, vital for immunity. And
this has been proved in clinical trials," he claimed.

Priced at Rs 10 per tablet, the dosage per patient is three tablets
taken three times a day or about Rs 2,700 per month. "Allopathic
drugs cost between Rs 1,000 to Rs 20, 000 per month, per patient. And
yet, anti-AIDS drugs clocked a sales of only Rs 30 crore last year,"
he points out.

Cost to patient being of paramount concern, VLL seeks to network with
non-governmental organisations and government-run institutions to
make Herbtab available to the consumer at one-third the cost, Mr Shah
informs

Multi-centre Phase III trials, at an Rs 5-crore budget, are being
negotiated with premier government institutes in New Delhi, Bangalore
and the North East. After successful trials at Mumbai's KEM Hospital,
Herbtab is available in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It
would be available nationally in three months.

Roping in Bollywood

VLL has roped in Dr Jabbar Patel, director of Bollywood-flick
Ambedkar, for a documentary on AIDS, expected to feature silver
screen's biggest names. In the past, Shabana Azmi and more recently,
Madhuri Dixit had featured in anti-AIDS campaigns. But the grapevine
has it that film world's leading model-turned-actress and actor-
turned-producer may be roped in this time. Unwilling to spill the
beans, Mr Shah revealed that different regions would have their
respective matinee-idols in the documentary. Meanwhile, public
interest campaigns, to be aired in a month, are being done by
Avishkar Advertising Services.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail
Comment on this article to BLFeedback@...

Medical journal slams popularity of homoeopathy in India
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/142896.html
Posted : Fri, 16 Nov 2007 05:04:01 GMT
Author : IANS

London, Nov 16 - Even as homeopathy gains popularity in India, it is
coming under pressure in Britain, with a proposed seminar on its role
in the treatment of HIV/AIDS sparking protests.

The seminar, organised by the Society of Homeopaths and scheduled to
be held here on Dec 1, has invited criticism from Michael Baum,
professor emeritus of surgery at the University College London (UCL),
according to the medical journal The Lancet.

The Lancet has also slammed the growing popularity of homeopathy in
India.

'People say homoeopathy cannot do any harm but when it is being
promoted for HIV then there is a serious problem,' Baum is quoted as
saying in a two-part special report in the medical journal.

Baum and others had sent a letter last May to all primary care trusts
in Britain to voice concern about homoeopathy treatment through the
National Health Service (NHS).

Seemingly in response, one trust stopped NHS funding for the
Tunbridge Wells Homeopathic Hospital, one of five that provide
homoeopathy treatment on the NHS.

Despite this, says the report, homoeopathy remains popular with the
public, with the 2007 market estimated to be worth 38 million pounds
($78 million). This figure is expected to rise to 46 million pounds
in 2012.

Baum believes the public backs homeopathy in the belief that it is
herbal medicine.

'Although many herbal medicines are unproven, they, unlike
homoeopathic remedies, have scientific plausibility,' he said.

Several studies, including one by The Lancet, have shown that the
clinical effects of homoeopathic remedies are placebo effects.

The report also focuses on the thriving homoeopathy industry in
India, where an estimated 100 million people depend solely on this
form of therapy for their health care.

It refers to the case of a man who sold his tractor to pay the
Rs.150,000 to pay for a miracle homoeopathic cure for HIV, which had
no effect.

Chinese doctors develop new technique in birth control for men
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/008200711151124.htm

Beijing (PTI): Chinese doctors have claimed to have developed a new
birth control surgery for men as alternative to vasectomy that could
be made available to the people beginning next year.

The new technique involves making a small incision along the testicle
and placing a tiny tube, about the size of a match, which functions
as a filter that blocks the sperm, the state-run China Daily said.

"The success rate for this form of birth control is 97 per cent," Wu
Weixiong, Director of Guangzhou Family Planning Technology Centre,
said.

The patented new technique would be promoted by the health department
as soon as it receives approval by the National Food and Drug
Administration, Zhu Jiaming, Vice-president of the Guangzhou Sexology
Association said. He expects the approval by next year.

The operation lasting only 10 minutes is very difficult and requires
highly skilled doctors, he said. Only a few hospitals and staff are
equipped to handle the procedure.

The newspaper said the technique was developed after more than 1,600
clinical trials all over the country in a four-year research led by
the science and technology institute of the National Population and
Family Planning Commission and Guangzhou family planning science and
technology institute.

Herbal Sex Pills Not Quite Safe
http://www.efluxmedia.com/news_Herbal_Sex_Pills_Not_Quite_Safe_10596.h
tml
by Anna Boyd  15:58, November 13th 2007

Pills marketed as safe herbal alternatives to prescription sex
medication such as Viagra are not as innocuous as consumers may
think, an investigation conducted by the Associated Press found.

Impotency products heralded as "all-natural" and bearing labels
abundant in herbal ingredients also include unregulated versions of
precisely the chemicals they are supposed to replace, the Associated
Press reports.

These chemicals clash with nitrates millions of men around the world
take in prescribed drugs for high blood pressure and heart disease,
and often lead to a heart attack or stroke.

The AP says that its investigation emphasizes a growing public health
concern that officials do not yet know how to track or ameliorate.
This could prove difficult, as herbal impotency pills are much sought
after – as sales worth approximately $400 million in 2006 prove.

At greatest risk are men who take nitrates and are well aware that
prescription sex medication like Viagra, Cialis or Levitra is not
recommended for them, should they wish to enhance their sexual
performance.

James Neal-Kababick, director of Oregon-based Flora Research
Laboratories, told the AP that about 90 percent of the hundreds of
samples he has analyzed contained forms of patented pharmaceuticals.
Some of these presented doses more than twice that of prescription
erectile dysfunction medicine.

No deaths have been reported, yet all-natural sex pills have caused
numerous emergency room visits, the AP notes.

Older men, more likely to have heart or blood pressure problems as
well as erectile dysfunctions, are not the only ones that suffer
unanticipated side effects of herbal pills.

The wire service reports that records of emergency room visits showed
men in their 30s, in good health, nevertheless suffered after taking
herbal sex pills, presenting side effects of the active ingredients
in regulated impotency pharmaceuticals, such as difficulty seeing
clearly or severe headaches.

Public health officials consider that these cases could be vastly
underreported, with patients too embarrassed to share such
experiences.

Sales of supplements marketed as natural sexual enhancers have been
riding a good wave over the past years, rising $100 million since
2001, to an astounding $398 million last year, including herbal
mixtures, according to estimates by Nutrition Business Journal, the
AP reports.

Some encouragement comes from the fact that not all sellers
advertising "magical" sexual enhancement are roaming freely on the
Internet, where most "herbal" pills are sold. According to the AP,
the U. S. Food and Drug Administration has been instrumental in eight
recalls over the past year. The recalled products contained
ingredients found in Viagra, Cialis or Levitra.

© 2007 - eFluxMedia

Diwali, the festival of prosperity and wealth  \
http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/1413
By  Binita Tiwari Views:59
New Delhi Comments:0

  Nov 08: Diwali, `the festival of light, prosperity and wealth' is
celebrated in the entire country along with some other parts of the
world. Though it may be known as some different names but the
celebration purpose is always same. To celebrate this festival in the
name of joy, wealth and happiness, though there is also a scientific
reason behind it to clean up the home after the end of rainy season,
which becomes the major cause of the growth of insects and several
microorganisms.

Diwali also known as Deepawali is a one of the major festival of
Hindus, but it is also celebrated by Jains, Sikhs and several other
communities irrespective of their faith. It is one of the social
festivals of India like Holy, Eid, Christmas Day and Baishakhi.
Besides India it is also celebrated in Nepal by the name of Tihar, in
Malaysia, it is known as Hari Deepawali, Singapore and Sri Lanka
celebrates it by the name of Deepawali and beyond the Asian
subcontinent. Deepawali is celebrated by lighting diyas (Earthen
lamp) with diyas. When all the diyas enlighten on the earth, the
stream of light shows that a new sun rises on the horizon. The
enlightened diyas express the spirit of fighting with the darkness
despite of `Amavasya' the darkest night of the month. Deepawali shows
the victory of `good' over `evil', `light' over `darkness'
and `knowledge' over `unawareness'.

The mighty hurricanes we suppress in our heart welled up during night
as festival is also about meeting and enjoying with our loved ones.
In this day all the rival melts in the heat of the light and the
people celebrate it with their hearts forgetting all the austerity.

Story behind this festival

This festival is celebrated to commemorate the returning of Rama in
Ayodhya (the kingdom of Lord Rama), after 14 years of exile; the
people of Ayodhya welcomed him back by lighting up the diya.

According to some other views, it is celebrated as the day when Lord
Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura and also as a victory
celebration of Rama over Ravana. According to Jainism, on this day
Lord Mahavira acquired `Nirvana'.

The Five days festival
Day 1: Dhanterus: The celebration begins from the day of Dhanteras,
two days before Diwali that bring good fortune and prosperity.
Dhanteras is regarded as the origin day of god Dhanvantari, who
originate during the churning of the great ocean by the gods and the
demons. Dhanterus means Dhan+terus, in which Dhan denotes money and
terus is the thirteenth day of the month. It is also known as
Dhanvantri Jayanti or Dhantrayodasi because of the origin day of god
Dhanvantri, the god of health and ayurveda. On this day people buy
utensils and jewellery for performing tradition, as it is believed a
symbol of fortune.

Day 2: Naraka Chaturdashi: The second day of Diwali is known as Narak
Chaturdashi, the fourteenth day of the month on which demon
Narakasura was killed. It signifies the victory of good over evil and
light over darkness. It is the prime day of the festival in south
India. The people perform puja of Lord Sri Krishna or Lord Sri
Vishnu. The people enlighten the `Diya' (earthen lamp) before the
main door of their homes on this day. This day is also known as Roop
Chaturdashi.

Day 3: Lakshmi Puja: In the north India, the third day of this
festival is the most important day on which the goddess of wealth,
Lakshmi and God of fortunate, Ganesha been worshipped across
devotees. People enlighten the earthen lamp across the streets and
homes, and pray for their prosperity and well-beings. Children play
fireworks and massive crackers are fired to express their joy on this
day.

Day 4: Govardhan Puja : The day after the prime day of Diwali is
known as Govardhan Puja or Annakut. On this day Lord Krishna defeated
Indra by lifting Govardhan Mountain on his little finger. On the
other hand, Annakut denotes a mountain of food that is decorated as a
symbol of Govardhan Mountain. The people present gifts to their wives
on this day.

Day 5: Bhaiduj (also Bhayyaduj, Bhaubeej or Bhayitika) : The last day
is for an auspicious relationship of brothers and sisters, especially
married brothers and sisters. Brothers and sisters express their love
and affection for each other by tying a thread. This festival is very
similar to the festival of Raksha Bandhan.

Scientific Significance: The festival of Deepawali always celebrated
in October or November, when the rainy season completely finishes
off. The rainy season becomes the cause of various insects and
microorganism that are killed of earthen lighting, house cleaning and
fireworks and provide us a healthy new winter season.

Importance of Deepawali for the small shopkeepers and businesspersons

According to Hindi Calendar (Vikrami Samvat), the day of Lakshmi
pujan (Worship of goddess Lakshmi) is the last day of financial year.
The businesspersons ended the account on this day and calculate the
profit or loss. A new account begins from the next day for the next
financial year.

Finally I along with our NewstrackIndia family wish you a happy and
prosperous Diwali.

May this Diwali illuminates your life ….

Comfort your tears..Promises a new beginning

Lighten up your way…and gives you hope

Here is a wishing from the bouquet of NewstrackIndia

Wishing you a very happy Diwali….

Yoga boosts health in heart failure patients - study
http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-30349520071106
Tue Nov 6, 2007

By Susan Kelly

ORLANDO, Fla. (Reuters) - An eight-week regimen of yoga proved safe
for patients with chronic heart failure and helped reduce signs of
inflammation often linked with death, according to a study released
on Monday.

More than 5 million Americans have chronic heart failure, a long-term
condition in which the heart no longer pumps blood efficiently to the
body's other organs. Health problems and deaths from the disease
remain high despite widespread use of effective drug and device
therapies to treat the condition.

Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta who
measured the effects of an eight-week yoga regimen on 19 heart
failure patients found the exercise routine reduced markers of
inflammation associated with heart failure while also improving
exercise tolerance and quality of life.

"Many people believe the addition of yoga may be beneficial in
cardiac rehabilitation," said the researchers, whose findings were
presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart
Association. "Furthermore, it may be that yoga has an impact on the
mechanisms of action involved in the progression of heart failure."

The study found significant differences in levels of biological
markers in the blood -- interleukin-6, C-reactive protein and extra-
cellular superoxide dismutase -- between patients who completed the
yoga therapy and those who received standard medical therapy.
Patients on yoga therapy completed the regimen without complications.

Patients who did yoga saw a 26 percent decrease in symptoms on a
standard assessment that measures quality of life in heart failure
patients, compared to a 3 percent decrease for the patients on
medical therapy alone.

"Yoga is aerobic. It is not surprising, in terms of its effects on
the inflammatory markers," said Dr. Nieca Goldberg, who prescribes
both yoga and tai chi, a Chinese martial art, to her heart failure
and heart attack patients.

Goldberg, a professor of medicine at New York University, said heart
failure patients often have trouble with exercise due to fatigue and
shortness of breath caused by the heart's reduced pumping ability.

"What's nice is they found not only does it reduce inflammatory
markers, but it is a safe form of exercise and it improves the
quality of their lives," Goldberg said.

Fasting Could Be Good For The Heart, New Study
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/87936.php

Fasting could be good for the heart, said researchers that found
lower rates of heart disease among members of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS or Mormons) compared with others.
LDS members fast for one day a month as part of their faith.

The study was presented at the American Heart Association's
Scientific Sessions 2007 in Orlando, Florida this week and was
carried out by Dr Benjamin D Horne, director of cardiovascular and
genetic epidemiology at Intermountain Medical Center and adjunct
assistant professor of biomedical informatics at the University of
Utah in Salt Lake City, and his colleagues.

Horne said that:

"People who fast seem to receive a heart-protective benefit, and this
appeared to also hold true in non-LDS people who fast as part of a
health-conscious lifestyle."

For 30 years scientists have known that LDS members or Mormons in
Utah were less likely to die of heart disease than other Americans,
including non LDS residents in Utah. They had put this down to the
fact it is against their religion to smoke, but also wondered if it
might be due to other religious practices.

Horne and colleagues looked at the angiography records of patients
who took part in the Intermountain Heart Collaborative Study between
1994 and 2002. Angiography is a type of X-ray exam that helps
specialists see if there are any blockages in the heart's blood
vessels.

They found 4,629 male and female patients of average age 64 whose
angiography results clearly showed either that they had coronary
artery disease (CAD) or that they did not. To be classed as clearly
having CAD, at least 70 per cent narrowing had to be found in at
least one artery. Patients whose coronary arteries showed less than
10 per cent blockage or narrowing were classed as clearly not having
CAD.

The patients whose records showed their religion to be LDS had less
CAD than those whose records showed another or no religion. The
results showed that 61 per cent of LDS patients had CAD compared with
66 per cent of non-LDS patients.

Horne said that even after taking into account smoking status, or
when they looked just at the non-smokers, they still found a lower
rate of CAD in the LDS members:

"We thought this was very interesting, so we devised a survey about
other behaviors associated with LDS that might bring a health
benefit," explained Horne.

In the second part of the study, Horne and colleagues found that
fasting was the "strongest predictor of lower heart disease risk",
and the patients who fasted also had less coronary disease, said
Horne.

In the second part of the study, the researchers surveyed 515
patients (also of average age 64) who underwent coronary angiography
between 2004 and 2006 and asked them not only about their religious
preference but more specifically about: smoking habits, fasting
(skipping two consecutive meals, including drink), abstaining from
tea, coffee and alcohol, taking a day of rest once a week, going to
church, and giving time, money and goods to charity. These practices
are all observed by LDS members, but the questions were asked of all
patients.

The results of this second investigation showed that:
Patients who fasted were significantly less likely to have a CAD
diagnosis than those who did not (59 per cent of the fasting patients
had arterial blockage of 70 per cent or more compared with 67 per
cent of the non-fasting patients).

People who fasted were 39 per cent less likely to be diagnosed with
CAD.

Patients who did not drink tea were less likely to have a CAD
diagnosis.

However, once fasting was factored in, the link between tea drinking
and lower CAD became insignificant.

The impact of fasting was most strongly apparent when those patients
with CAD were compared with those with minimal or no CAD (less than
10 per cent arterial blockage).

In this comparison, the odds of having a CAD diagnosis was 45 per
cent lower among fasting patients.

Speculating on the findings, the researchers emphasized that the
results did not prove that fasting caused less CAD, but they did
suggest a new hypothesis. Perhaps it was down to timing, said Horne:

"When you abstain from food for 24 hours or so, it reduces the
constant exposure of the body to foods and glucose."

"One of the major problems in the development of the metabolic
syndrome and the pathway to diabetes is that the insulin-producing
beta cells become desensitized. Routine fasting may allow them to
resensitize - to reset to a baseline level so they work better."

He was quick to point out the study was not suggesting diabetics
should skip meals.

The researchers called for more studies based on a wider range of
populations throughout the US.

The American Heart Association said those who are interested in these
findings should note this was not a randomized or controlled trial,
and there could be other factors that link fasting with reduced CAD
not found by this study.

Click here for American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2007.

Written by: Catharine Paddock
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

GLOBAL: Fear and hope for HIV-positive illegal immigrants
http://www.plusnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75151
Photo: Anthony Kaminju/IRIN
Second-line ARVs are not yet available in Angola

LISBON, 5 November 2007 (PlusNews) - The large window in Margarida
Martins' office looks out over José Luís Champalimaud Square in a
central Lisbon neighbourhood where many immigrants reside. It's not
uncommon to find her attention drawn to African women with their
children in their arms, standing across the street with a look of
desperation on their faces, afraid to enter the building.

Martins is the president of the non-governmental organisation (NGO)
Abraço, an association to support people with HIV/AIDS. "It's very
painful to see these people, who come here with absolutely nothing,
looking for antiretrovirals [ARVs]," she told IRIN/PlusNews.

Portuguese legislation stipulates that illegal immigrants with life-
threatening diseases, such as AIDS, for which treatment is available
in their own countries, may stay for one year of medical care; after
this they are obliged to leave Portugal.

If there is no treatment in their country of origin the immigrants
may remain longer, as is often the case of HIV-positive children who
need ARV medication, or Angolan adults in need of second-line ARVs,
which are unavailable in their home country.

The same policy applies to patients suffering from life-threatening
conditions, such as kidney failure. If dialysis equipment is not
available in the patient's country of origin, the immigrant may also
stay in Portugal.

"There has been greater openness on the part of the Portuguese
government in the last year regarding these cases," remarked António
Rodrigues, a social worker and counsellor at Abraço.

Today, some 50 Angolans, besides patients from other Portuguese-
speaking African countries, are receiving treatment through
Abraço. "Many HIV patients who begin antiretroviral treatment in
Angola say that sometimes there are shortages of drugs there, or that
they're worried about the lack of confidentiality," Martins
commented.

Lack of familiarity with the law

The problem is that most immigrants "are not only unfamiliar with the
legal mechanisms, they also don't know that there are institutions in
Portugal that can help them navigate the bureaucracy," said Flora
Silva, president of Olho Vivo, an NGO that helps immigrants adjust to
living in Portugal. "But the fear of being identified as illegal and
of being deported still keeps many from asking for help."

Laws passed in 1998 and 2003 make it clear that an immigrant with a
disease that could be life threatening, but whose own country does
not offer treatment, can begin the legalisation process in Portugal
by presenting a medical declaration, with proof of residence and
means of subsistence.

If the request is accepted by the Foreigner and Border Service, the
immigrant will have his or her situation sanctioned and will be given
access to health and social security services.

For many HIV-positive illegal immigrants, the process begins at the
National Immigrant Support Centre (known by the Portuguese acronym
CNAI), to which they are referred by hospitals where they have
received emergency care. Nurse Amélia Carvalho, of the CNAI's health
department, said the Centre usually tried to "integrate" these
immigrants into the National Health Service.

The first step is to direct the patient to the health centre in his
or her residential area for a preliminary check-up. Once in the
National Health Service, the patient is exempt from paying for HIV-
related treatment provided in a hospital setting.

This sounds simple in theory, but is difficult to implement. "There
are still doctors and state health institutions that don't want to
provide care to HIV-positive patients, and that's where Abraço comes
in," said Sara Carvalho, a social worker at Abraço's Home Support
Centre.

After medical evaluations, the patient is often sent to an immigrant
assistance centre such as Olho Vivo. "We take care of the
regularisation process from start to finish: we establish contact
with the doctor who will be taking care of the patient and we
organise the paperwork," said Silva.

When the process has been completed, "the social security payments
kick in and the immigrant can benefit from the same support as a
Portuguese citizen," she said. The fact that 80 percent of the
immigrants who come to the Abraço office are from Lusophone Africa
has led the organisation to address the problem at its point of
origin.

"We're negotiating a cooperation protocol with Doctors of the World,
Portugal, and we hope to have initiatives before the end of the year
in Angola and Mozambique that will complement the projects we already
have underway," explained Francisco Porto Ribeiro, a member of
Abraço's board of directors.

Meanwhile, immigrants continue to arrive in Portugal and to knock on
Margarida Martins' door, hoping to obtain the treatment they couldn't
get in their own countries.

rg/ms/jh/kn/he

Theme(s): (IRIN) HIV/AIDS (PlusNews)
[ENDS]

Mangalore: Well-known HIV/AIDS Activist Veenadhari is No More
http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?
n_id=39814&n_tit=Mangalore%3A%20Well-known%20HIV%2FAIDS%20Activist%
20Veenadhari%20is%20No%20More

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (VM)

Mangalore, Nov 2: Well-known social worker and an ardent activist for
the rights of HIV infected, Veenadhari passed away on Friday evening
in Bangalore.

After a brief term of illness, the Mangalorean former school teacher,
a HIV +ve herself, breathed her last in Manipal Hospital, Bangalore.

Veenadhari, who followed and advocated the ayurveda and naturopathy
approach to living with HIV/AIDS, was in news when she led a mega
drive against the `stigmatizing of persons with HIV' using the red
ribbon symbol.

By dedicating her life to the cause of persons with HIV and fighting
a daily battle against a society which ostracizes HIV-infected,
Veenadhari's great achievement was the Karavali Positive Women's and
Children's Network.

Having voiced the concerns of persons with HIV/AIDS at thousands of
forums and in national and international seminars, Veenadhari who
hailing from a rich family, led a simple life by choice.  A full time
social worker, Veenadhari was instrumental in identifying women who
are infected with HIV and providing them help.

Veenadhari broke up with her husband who unknowingly had passed on
the HIV virus to her. When her husband's health deteriorated and he
was diagnosed as HIV +ve, it was a deadly blow to Veenadhari. She
soon found out that she too had contracted the disease.

The medical fraternity and sections of the government machinery was
unhappy with her campaign against the commercialization of the Anti-
Retroviral Drug.

"I am HIV +ve, does that make me a lesser human being?" questioned
Veenadhari as people pointed fingers at her when she boldly revealed
her HIV status.

During her life time, she worked day-and-night offering emotional and
psychological support to thousands of persons infected with HIV.

Crossing all boundaries of social secrecy and stigma, Veenadhari with
the infrastructure and support from Valored, a social service
organization, was responsible for forming numerous groups of medical
practioners, advocates, social workers and journalists working for
the rights of persons with HIV/AIDS.

A great loss to the society and to the HIV/AIDS awareness movement,
Veenadhari's death has shocked al those who have interacted and known
her work.

Also read exclusive story on Veenadhari:

"I AM HIV +VE, DOES THAT MAKE ME A LESSER HUMAN BEING?
http://www.daijiworld.com/chan/exclusive_arch.asp?ex_id=16

Mobile AIDS counselling centre launched in Nagaland
http://www.igovernment.in/site/mobile-aids-counselling-centre-
launched-in-nagaland/

October 12, 2007 | Issues, News and Governance.

Kohima: The National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) in
collaboration with the state AIDS control (NSACS) has launched Mobile
Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC), the first of its
kind initiative in Nagaland.

A mobile ICTC is a temporary clinic with flexible working hours in
hard-to-reach areas aimed at providing ante-natal check up,
counselling and testing services, syndromes management of sexually
transmitted infections (STI) cases, treatment of minor ailments
besides, health education services.

Giving further details of the project NSACS Project Director Dr
Neiphi Kire said NACO has sanctioned five Mobile ICTCs (Integrated
Counseling and Testing Centers) this year.

As part of the Phase 1 of the project two Mobile ICTCs have been
launched for Tuensang and Mon districts in the state.

Stating that transporting officers and staffs poses as the main
problem for monitoring and supervision of ICTCs, the Project Director
said that the long felt need would be addressed with the provision of
Motor bikes to all the District supervisions.

He also said that TV and DVD players have been supplied to ICTCs in
order to extend Information Education and Communication services to
the people.

"The mobile ICTCs would give maximum coverage to the un-reached
areas, give better supervision and also help in the effective
implementation of the various schemes of NSACS," Nagaland Minister
for Health and Family Welfare Dr TM Lotha said.

He called upon the Eleutherus Christian Society of Tuensang and
Shansham Organisation of Mon, to whom the Mobile ICTCs has been
placed, to use the facilities properly, so that HIV/AIDS infection is
controlled and eradicated from the state of Nagaland. "Unless we have
commitment we will not be able to implement the programme
effectively," he said.

Stating that HIV/AIDS is a threat to the society, Lotha opined that
the subject matter has to be taken up by every individual as a
challenge. "We have to defeat it and we have to eradicate it with a
sense of commitment and dedication," the Minister stressed.

"It will help to tell the people the facts of HIV/AIDS and will make
them aware that it is 100 per cent preventable," Health and Family
Welfare Commissioner cum Secretary Menukhol John said.

He also called upon the CMOs and MS of the district to put their
heads together and to see that the facilities are used properly.

The two Mobile ICTCs and nine Motorbikes were flagged of by Lotha to
mark the launch of the service in the state.
—iGovernment Bureau

Trucks keep alive Bhagat legacy
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chandigarh/Trucks_keep_alive_Bhagat
_legacy/articleshow/2410362.cms

28 Sep 2007, 0305 hrs IST,Khushwant Singh,TNN

CHANDIGARH: No one else has perhaps spread the name of revolutionary
Bhagat Singh more than Punjab's truck and taxi drivers. Be it in the
form of bumper stickers, sketches or windshield screens, the iconic
freedom fighter still appeals to this lot more than any other leader
before or after India's independence.

"He is our hero," said Sital Singh, a truck driver from Moga. Sital,
who was eating his lunch at a dhaba near Ropar and had Bhagat Singh's
image painted brightly on the rear bumper of his vehicle explained
that for the likes of him "who encounter corrupt traffic officials
everyday" Bhagat Singh's legacy was the only inspiring story. "India
needs a revolutionary like Bhagat Singh to inspire people to fight
corruption. Politicians will just celebrate his birth anniversary (on
Friday) and forget about him. But for us, he lives forever."

Not surprisingly, the freedom fighter's image is what is demanded
most from the state's painters. "When we visit a painter, Bhagat
Singh's sketch is the first option we are offered,"said Kulwinder
Singh, another truck driver who traverses the entire length and
breadth of the country. There is another sub-option: a turbaned
Bhagat Singh and the one in a hat. His moustache, though, has to be
perfect, turban or hat. "At least give us credit for spreading his
name," said Lakhmir Singh, who was carrying apples from HP to
Chandigarh. "Usually we are only charged with spreading AIDS and
other sexual diseases."

Incidentally, it's not only truckers who are inspired by Bhagat
Singh. The man who went to the gallows fighting the British is a hit
with young Punjabi taxi drivers as well. "He's my role-model,"
announced 32-year-old Iqbal Singh, a taxi driver from Hoshiarpur. He
said the Bhagat Singh tale got into his head and heart after repeated
rendition of it by his late grandfather.

India Among Top Human Trafficking Destinations: UN
http://newspostindia.com/report-17431

Wednesday 03rd of October 2007 India is emerging as a leading
destination for human trafficking in South Asia, with over 35,000
young girls and women from Bangladesh and Nepal being brought into
the country every year, the United Nations said here Wednesday.

'Human trafficking is world's third largest profit-making illicit
industry and in south Asia India is among the favoured destinations.
Here people are mostly trafficked from Bangladesh and Nepal,' said
Gary Lewis, chief of UN office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) here.

'In India 20,000-25,000 women and children are trafficked from
Bangladesh annually, while 5,000-15,000 are brought illegally from
Nepal for the primary purpose of prostitution and slavery,' Lewis
said ahead of the global conference UN.GIFT, to be held in the
capital Oct 10-11.

The conference is likely to be attended by several union ministers
and Bollywood personalities including John Abraham, Amisha Patel,
Kiron Kher and Onir.

Superstar Amitabh Bachchan will send a special message for the fight
against human trafficking.

'The more devastating fact is that now Nepali girls below 10 years
are being forced into the trade. In the 1980s (trafficked) girls were
mostly in the age group of 14-16 and in 1994 the age further reduced
to 10-14.

'But last year girls below 10 were found trapped into the human
trafficking business. This not only puts their lives in peril but
also exposes them to higher risk of HIV/AIDS,' Lewis told IANS.

The UN official said that 2-3 million people are trafficked annually
in and out of India and, most disturbingly, a large number of people
from states like West Bengal and Orissa and the northeastern region
are trafficked to metropolitan cities like Delhi and Mumbai for
various reasons.

According to the UN definition, trafficking in persons means the
recruitment, transport, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons by
means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion
abduction, of fraud, for the purpose of exploitation.

P.R. Nair, project coordinator with UNODC, said: 'People from these
states are trafficked to work in dance bars, pubs, restaurants,
friendship clubs, massage parlours and for domestic chores.'

To combat this ever-escalating problem the state governments must set
up anti-human trafficking cells and coordinate among themselves, he
suggested.

Nair added that very few states - Andhra Pradesh, Goa and West
Bengal - have set up such mechanisms.

Asked about what initiative the UN is taking to curb human
trafficking, Nair said: 'We are closely working with states and are
also providing special training to police officials dealing with
human trafficking victims.

'We also design various programme and guidelines related to the
issue. Our teams jointly work with NGOs in rescuing and
rehabilitating the victims,' he added.

Nair said that 96 rescue operations have been conducted so far this
year and 800 victims including 662 minors were rescued. 'A total of
1,008 traffickers and 220 customers were also arrested.'

Roma Debabrata, who runs an NGO 'STOP' for such people, said the need
of the hour is more and quick conviction of those involved in human
trafficking.

Capacity Building Training Workshop on Adolescent Health and
Development 4 – 11 October, 2007, at CYP Asia Centre, Chandigarh

The Rajiv Gandhi National Institute for Youth Development (RGNIYD)
and UNIFEM in collaboration with Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS)
under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Government of India is
organizing the above mentioned workshop from 04-11, October, 2007
at the premises of the CYP Asia Centre, Chandigarh.

The main objective of this workshop is to focus on holistic
development of the adolescents and to emphasis their role in
community building activities at large.

The training workshop would be attended by the Sixty (60) Zonal
Project officers, District Project Officers and District Youth
Coordinators of NYKs from North India working for the Adolescent
Health and Development project of the Ministry of Youth Affairs
and Sports, Government of India.

The training workshop would be inaugurated by Dr. Fatiha Serour,
Head, Youth Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat, London,
United Kingdom.  The ceremony would be presided over by Mr. Raj K.
Mishra, Regional Director, Commonwealth Youth Programme Asia
Centre and also attended by Dr. Radhakrishanan, Faculty Head, RGNIYD
alongwith various dignitaries, resource persons and opinion leader.

Regards
Avnish Jolly
Programme Facilitator

Karnataka police formulate a workplace policy on HIV/AIDS
http://www.infochangeindia.org/features447.jsp

By Deepanjali Bhas

The Karnataka State Police has become the first state police
department in India to formally unveil a comprehensive and detailed
Workplace Policy on HIV/AIDS. But will it work on the ground?

Even as debates rage on the actual number of people living with
HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in India, the Karnataka State Police (KSP) became
the first state police department in India to formally unveil a
comprehensive and detailed Workplace Policy on HIV/AIDS, in April
2007.

The guiding principles of this policy are:

Employees living with HIV/AIDS have the same rights and obligations
as all staff members, and they will be protected against all forms of
discrimination based on their HIV status.
Minimise the possibility of HIV infection and transmission among
staff members and their families.
The policy document adds that no person with HIV or AIDS will be
unfairly discriminated against within the employment relationship or
within any employment policy or practice, including with regard to
recruitment procedures, advertising and selection criteria,
appointments and the appointment process, job classification or
grading, remuneration, employment benefits and terms and conditions
of employment, welfare schemes, the workplace and facilities,
occupational health and safety, training and development, performance
evaluation systems, promotions, transfers and demotions, disciplinary
measures short of dismissal, and termination of services.

The formulation of this policy is a commendable step that could prove
to be a model for police departments in other states as well; Andhra
Pradesh, Maharashtra , Manipur and Nagaland have already shown an
interest in drafting a similar policy. And yet, when police personnel
from police stations in Bangalore were randomly quizzed about their
own department's policy, they did not have a clue! Will this be yet
another example of a good effort on paper that fails to be
implemented on the ground?

Although the Mumbai police department announced a one-page policy in
2004, the KSP document is the first extensive document clearly laying
out the guiding principles, rights of personnel diagnosed with
HIV/AIDS, and grievance redressal mechanisms. As S T Ramesh, ADGP
(Prisons), who, as ADGP (Recruitment and Training) last year was
instrumental in forging a consensus on developing a policy,
says: "The experience was new and marked a realisation of the high
levels of risk that police personnel face in their job."

An International Labour Organisation (ILO) study, conducted in four
Indian states by Networks of People Living With HIV/AIDS, noted that
discrimination at the workplace could be higher than the reported
6.1%, considering that many PLWHA do not disclose their status for
fear of losing their job. The study noted that HIV-positive people
are often compelled to leave their jobs on account of harassment such
as denial of promotions, forced voluntary retirement, and
ostracisation by co-workers.

As work profiles go, police department staff are at extremely high
risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. Exposure to blood is routine for
constables and officials, and this, coupled with high-risk behaviour
through unsafe sexual practices and long periods of time spent away
from home increases their risk.

The first case that brought the issue of Stigma and Discrimination
(S&D) in the police department into focus in Karnataka was when
Constable Ramesh Rao from Shimoga district was diagnosed HIV-positive
in 1999. Rao was dismissed from the force after having secured an
appointment. This was in accordance with a 1994 state police
department circular stating that the department could not hire
persons diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Rao approached the Karnataka
Administrative Tribunal (KAT) with a petition demanding
reinstatement, which too was initially rejected. He got his job back
only after a seven-year-long legal battle when the KAT ruled, in
August 2005, that he should be reappointed and paid for the seven-
year period.

Rao says that being told that he would not be appointed constable due
to his HIV-positive status was a double blow. After being dismissed
he was forced to take up work in a private organisation.

Rao's problems did not end here. The police department, citing the
Karnataka Pay and Promotion Policy, decided to pay him only his basic
salary for the seven years, minus travel and dearness allowance which
constituted his full salary. Lawyers Collective has drafted a reply
to the police department pointing out that this is not in keeping
with the KAT order that stated that Rao should receive his full
salary for the seven-year period.

As Rajkumar, advocacy officer, Lawyers Collective, the organisation
that has been fighting Rao's case since 2004, says: "This was not
just about the legalities of a case, it was about the dignity of a
person." He points out that even in an area as sensitive as the
concerns of PLWHA, petitions like Rao's are considered acts of
indiscipline within the police force.

It was Constella Futures that, as part of its Essential Advocacy
Project, took the lead in initiating meetings and discussions on the
need for a workplace policy in the KSP. In association with other
organisations working with HIV/AIDS -- the Karnataka Health Promotion
Trust, Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society, Karnataka Network of
Positive People, UNAIDS, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation -- a
working group was formed with representation from the KSP that
included Constable Rao.

Sumathi Subramaniam, head of advocacy, Constella Futures,
says: "Getting a formal commitment like this policy is like getting a
window to this space of fighting S&D."

There were several complications, however, one of them being the
issue of pre-recruitment testing. After clarifications were obtained
that this was of no consequence to other fitness requirements and was
discriminatory, the need for the clause was dismissed. Subramaniam
notes that the process of drafting the KSP policy marked a shift in
mindset and was a big leap for officers who realised the role the
police department has to play in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Gaps and concerns: From ensuring confidentiality to the challenge of
implementation

Under the policy, a nodal officer of the rank of superintendent of
police has been appointed in all districts of Karnataka for grievance
redressal. Training and sensitisation of staff and faculty is also
currently underway.

Although the policy, which is drafted along international lines, is a
step in the right direction, a number of serious issues remain. The
most obvious is the challenge of implementation, a concern echoed by
several police officers and experts in the field.

S Mohammed Afsar, t echnical specialist (HIV/AIDS), South Asia, and
national programme coordinator, ILO, appreciates the fact that the
KSP policy is in keeping with the ILO's principles, and that there
has been a recognition of the vulnerability of the police force to
HIV/AIDS as well as its responsibility. But, he points out, its
translation from theory into practice will be difficult.

He admits that the fact that the director general of police has
signed the policy is an advantage, as it is then considered binding.
But for any policy to be effective there has to be a core committee
to review its implementation. This has not yet been done.

As some KSP officials say, a major drawback is that as of now there
is no provision for medical claim reimbursement for HIV/AIDS, whereas
expenses incurred for tuberculosis- and cancer-related testing can be
claimed. In this context, confidentiality itself becomes difficult to
ensure, for when medical claims are sent for approval there is an
entire chain of people who see the files which have the names clearly
mentioned. Maintaining confidentiality then, and preventing S&D, will
be impossible unless the current system is modified with employee
number codes.

Afsar, who supports the drafting of such polices in corporate houses
and the public sector, says that two-thirds of people do invariably
get to know about an HIV-positive co-worker's status. Ensuring
absolute confidentiality is difficult as it has to be balanced
against care and support needs. "This makes it a `shared
confidentiality', which is why sensitising people at all levels in an
organisation is important, not just at the shop floor or middle-rung
level," he says. The ILO is now commissioning a study to assess the
implementation of policies in organisations where they are in place,
and identify bottlenecks.

Further, in the absence of a state government policy to prevent S&D
against PLWHA, the KSP policy's effectiveness on the ground is
debatable. As KSP officials say, the department is a part of the
government and cannot function in isolation. Afsar notes that in the
case of PSUs and government departments, legislation in this regard
could provoke stronger action.

There is also a strongly held view among senior police officers that
awareness levels on HIV/AIDS must be boosted across the board, from
officers of the highest rank to the lowest. This in itself is a
challenge, given that it will bring sex and sexuality issues out into
the open.

The existing stigma and disinterest is so great that the actual
number of people infected with HIV/AIDS in the KSP has not yet been
documented. Media reports in 2004, quoting a senior police officer,
stated that nearly 400 of the 40,000-strong Mumbai police force are
HIV-positive.

Sector experts and police officers say that the police force is, in a
sense, more conservative than society at large; it tends to have a
more rigid viewpoint on most issues. The disciplined nature of the
force makes even issues like pre-recruitment testing for HIV/AIDS
subject to heated debate, be it in the KSP or Mumbai where NGOs, in
2004, condemned a move by the Mumbai police to make HIV testing
mandatory.

Police officers say that it is likely that, on hearing about such a
policy, there will be some initial confusion in the ranks that would
require clarification. They hope the proposed training sessions will
help clear doubts. Rao admits that most of his colleagues in the
constabulary do not know much about HIV/AIDS; even among the senior
officers there are some who are insensitive to the needs of PLWHA.

A dissemination process is currently underway, with copies of the
printed policy dispatched to all districts in Karnataka. It will soon
also be on the KSP website.

Interestingly, the last six-seven years have seen a lot of activity
on the HIV/AIDS workplace policy front in India , says Afsar. While
most corporate houses have been emulating global best practices, PSUs
like Steel Authority of India Ltd, BEST, Mumbai Port Trust and Goa
Ship Yard have also joined the ranks. He notes that, compared to most
countries in Asia, India is doing much better in this regard but,
given the sheer size of the country's working population, more
advocacy efforts are required to boost these initiatives.

Towards a more inclusive audience

Training and sensitisation are keywords in the battle against stigma
and discrimination, a continuous effort to dispel myths and increase
awareness about HIV/AIDS. Organisations working in the sector plan
regular training sessions for those who are perceived to be the most
important decision-makers, at the highest level and on the ground.
But, experts say, training alone does not translate into actual
attitudinal change.

While Sumathi believes that the biggest challenge in framing the
policy was getting a formal commitment to this first-of-its-kind
document, and that the support of the leadership environment in the
KSP was a big advantage, how attempts at behavioural change actually
play out on the ground is a concern. Constella Futures is working for
change in the police training curriculum, which will happen
gradually, so that HIV/AIDS gets into the framework of training at
the recruitment stage. Among others, an HIV/AIDS training course for
the staff and faculty at the Karnataka Police Academy , Mysore , was
conducted in June 2007, and an intensive Training of Trainers (ToT)
module will be taken up in the next few months. The KSP's Unicef-
funded Gender Sensitisation and People-friendly Police Project will
also incorporate a module on HIV/AIDS.

Nevertheless, lawyers like Rajkumar sound a more cynical note. He
believes the entire criminal justice system in India has to be
overhauled. Attitudinal change is crucial, and while change can be
seen at higher levels of government it is seriously lacking at the
crucial middle and lower levels. Rajkumar points out that
administrative-level personnel, who are mostly ignored in the
sensitisation programmes, are often the most prejudiced and
judgmental, blocking the provision of essential services to PLWHA .
Across-the-board sensitisation is clearly the need of the hour.

In light of this, organisations working in the HIV/AIDS sector and
advocating the rights of PLWHA need to go beyond regular training and
sensitisation modules, creating new avenues and a more inclusive
audience for sensitisation.

(Deepanjali Bhas is a development communications specialist who was
previously a journalist with The Times of India)

InfoChange News & Features, September 2007

Need for effective policies and programmes for the elderly
http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardian/2007/10/01/99506.html
2007-10-01 08:41:07
By JOYCE BAZIRA

Today is the International Day for Older Persons whose theme focuses
on need for countries to put in place good and effective policies for
the elderly so as to improve the quality of life they are now
leading.

The day, which was declared by United Nations General Assembly in
1990, is dedicated to honour, respect and care for the world�s
elderly.

Our staff writer, focuses on this day and efforts being made
worldwide to make sure that the elderly enjoy a decent life just like
any other members of the society.

FOR the first time in history, the celebrations of the International
Day for Older Persons, which is commemorated on October 1 every year,
will today take a new turn when older people around the world unite
to demand improvements in ageing policies and practices in their
countries.

As part of this campaign, the first ever global coordinated action to
bring about change, older people`s organizations and groups from more
than 25 countries will meet their government representatives and
present a memorandum which contains important issues which affect
older people and therefore, need urgent interventions.

In Tanzania, HelpAge International Country Programme Director, Abdul
Jetha, said a delegation of older people had planned to meet the
Minister for Health and Social Welfare in Dar es Salaam while other
delegations planned to meet District Commissioners for Magu and
Shinyanga Rural in Lake zone.

In the memorandum, older people demand free access to government
health facilities, backed by identity cards, establishment of a
revolving fund at district level to facilitate livelihood schemes as
well as older men and women being supported in their roles as carers
for people living with HIV/AIDS and their orphaned grandchildren.

Also older people are calling for mainstreaming of ageing issues into
district development plans and budgets and operationalisation of the
National Ageing Policy of 2003.

In their statement, older people`s organizations in Tanzania urge the
government to ensure that voices of older men and women are heard and
represented in the development policies and practices, particularly
in National Ageing Policy and the poverty alleviation strategy
(MKUKUTA) of 2005.

According to Jetha, at the Second World Assembly on Ageing in April
2002, representatives of 159 governments including Tanzania signed
the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) to respond
to the opportunities and challenges of population ageing in the 21st
century and promote the development of a society for all ages.

`That`s why HelpAge as an international organisation is launching a
worldwide campaign to raise awareness of the unique problems faced by
older people and to ensure governments meet the goals of the Madrid
pact,` he says.

He adds that MIPAA calls for the inclusion of older people in the
Millennium Development Goal of halving the proportion of people
living in extreme poverty by 2015.

He says, `To achieve this objective, older people around the world
are calling for a package of social pension, affordable health care
and anti-discriminatory legislation and practice.`

Older people in Tanzania feel that the government, with support from
international aid, where necessary, should establish universal non-
contributory pensions and establish primary health care facilities
which are accessible to all.

Enactment of legislation offering the most vulnerable older people
effective physical security and protection of property rights should
also be taken into account.

Besides, support of international donor community is necessary so
that the government can provide social protection, offer older carers
support to access the existing services.

Globally, older people are calling for recognition of their vital
role in society and a package of universal non-contributory pensions,
health care focused on the unique needs of older men and women and
anti-discriminatory legislation for all older persons worldwide.

`Whether is a grandmother in Africa caring for her grandchildren
after their parents have died of AIDS or a grandfather in India
continuing to work to support his extended family, the vital role of
older person is seriously underestimated by governments and others
all around the world,` says Richard Blewitt, HelpAge International`s
Chief Executive Officer.

Today there are around 600 million persons aged 60 years and above
worldwide and this total is expected to double by 2025 and by 2050
the number is projected to rise to two billion whose majority would
be in developing world.

Older people will increasingly play a critical role -through
volunteer work, transmitting experience and knowledge, helping their
families with caring responsibilities and increasing their
participation in the paid labour force.

At the moment, older persons already make major contributions to the
society.

For instance, throughout Africa and elsewhere millions of adult Aids
patients are cared for at home by their parents.

At their deaths, orphaned children left behind (currently, 14 million
under the age of 15 in African countries alone) are mainly looked
after by their grandparents.

It is not only in developing countries that older persons� role in
development is critical.

In Spain for example, caring for dependent and sick individuals (of
all ages) is mostly done by older people (particularly older women)

Such contributions to development can only be ensured if older
persons enjoy adequate levels of health, for which appropriate
policies need to be in place.

So it is upon the government and all Tanzanians to support the
efforts aimed at uplifting the standards of life of the elderly so
that they manage to deliver their important roles without
jeopardizing their health and well being.

SOURCE: Guardian

Consequences of gender discrimination
Badiul Alam Majumdar
http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=5935

Gender discrimination is all pervasive. Beginning from the dawn of
civilisation, it has been continuing over centuries. Although it
shows up in different forms and manifestations in different cultures,
it exists in every society. It encompasses every segment of the
society, irrespective of economic condition and social standing.
Discrimination exists throughout the entire lifecycle of women,
beginning from conception to death, and it has ominous consequences.

Feticide and infanticide
Gender discrimination begins early, even before the birth of a girl
child. Modern diagnostic tools make it possible to determine a
child's sex in the earliest phase. In many societies, these
techniques are often misused for female feticide. Although there is
no conclusive evidence to confirm it, birth histories and census data
reveal an unusually high proportion of male births and male children
under-five in China and India, indicating sex-selective feticide and
infanticide in the world's two most populous countries, despite
commitments to eradicate these practices in both countries.
Fortunately, these are not serious problems in Bangladesh.

The early years
A principal priority for the early years of childhood and adolescence
is ensuring access to, and completion of, quality primary and
secondary education. With some exceptions, it is mostly girls who are
deprived of educational opportunities.

Primary education: For every 100 boys out of school worldwide, there
are 115 girls in the same situation. Though the gender gap has been
increasingly closing over the decades, nearly 1 out of every 5 girls
who enrolls in primary school in developing countries does not
complete the primary education. Lack of primary education deprives a
girl of the opportunity to develop to her fullest potential. Studies
have shown that educated women are less likely to die in childbirth
and are more likely to send their children to school. Evidence
indicates that under-five mortality rate falls by about half for
mothers with primary school education.

Secondary education: Recent Unicef estimates show that, on an
average, 43 percent of girls of the appropriate age in the developing
countries attend secondary school. There are many reasons for this
low attendance rate. Because of greater emphasis on universal primary
education, many developing countries have neglected to allocate
adequate resources to increase enrolment and attendance in secondary
education. Childhood marriage is another reason. Parental inability
to meet educational expenses due to poverty is also a reason.

Secondary education has many benefits. It is most effective in
delaying the age at which a young woman first gives birth, and it can
enhance freedom of movement and maternal health. It strengthens
women's socioeconomic and political participation, and also enhances
their status both in the family and in the larger society.

Adolescence
Among the greatest threats to adolescent development are abuse,
exploitation and violence, and the lack of vital knowledge about
sexual and reproductive health, including HIV/AIDS.

Child marriage and premature parenthood: Globally, 36 percent of
women aged 20-24 were married or in union before they reached their
18th birthday, and most such marriages take place in South Asia and
sub-Saharan Africa. This problem is serious in Bangladesh. Parents
often consent to child marriages out of economic necessity, or
because they believe that marriage will protect girls from sexual
assault.

Premature pregnancy and motherhood are inevitable consequences of
child marriage. An estimated 14 million adolescents between 15-19
give birth each year. Girls under 15 are five times more likely to
die during pregnancy and childbirth than women in their twenties. If
a mother is under 18, her baby's chance of dying in the first year is
60 percent higher than that of a baby born to a mother who is older
than 19. Even if the child survives, he/she is more likely to suffer
from low birth weight, under nutrition, and late physical and
cognitive development.

Sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking: The younger girls are
when they first have sex, the more likely it is that intercourse has
been imposed on them. According to a World Health Organisation study,
150 million girls and 73 million boys under the age of 18 experienced
forced sexual intercourse or other forms of physical and sexual
violence in some countries during 2002.

An estimated 1.8 million children are involved in commercial sex
work. Many are forced into it, either by being sold into sexual
slavery by desperately poor families or being abducted and trafficked
into brothels or other exploitative environments. Children exploited
in the commercial sex industry are subjected to neglect, sexual
violence, and physical and psychological abuse. In Bangladesh, sexual
exploitation and trafficking are serious problems. For example, every
year, an estimated 20,000 women and children are trafficked from
Bangladesh. During the last 30 years, more than a million women have
been trafficked to India, Pakistan, and the Middle East.

Sexual and reproductive health: Because unprotected sex carries the
risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV,
knowledge of sexual and reproductive health is essential for the
safety of young people. Although information alone cannot provide
protection, it is certainly a first step. Nonetheless, adolescents
around the world continue to have limited knowledge of reproductive
health issues and the risks they face.

HIV/Aids: By 2005, nearly half of the 39 million people with HIV were
women. In parts of Africa and the Caribbean, young women (aged 15-24)
are up to six times more likely to be infected than young men their
age. One reason is physiological -- women are more than twice as
likely as men to become infected with HIV during sex. The other
crucial factor is social -- gender discrimination in patriarchic
societies denies women the right to say "no" to men's demands for
sex. Promiscuous behaviour of men is also a factor. High rates of
illiteracy among women prevent them from knowing about the risks of
HIV infection and possible protection strategies. A survey of 24 sub-
Saharan countries reveals that more than two-thirds of young women
lack clear knowledge of HIV transmission. Even though it is not yet a
serious problem in Bangladesh, we face potentially serious risks
because of high rate of HIV/AIDS in neighbouring India.

The dramatic rise in infection among women increases the risks for
children. Infants become infected through their mothers during
pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. In 2005, more than 2 million
children aged 14 years or younger were living with HIV.

Motherhood and old age
Two critical periods in many women's lives, when the pernicious
effects of both poverty and inequality can combine, are motherhood
and old age.

Maternal mortality: It is estimated that each year more than half a
million women -- roughly one woman every minute -- die as a result of
pregnancy related complications and childbirth. About 99 percent of
all maternal deaths occur in developing countries, with over 90
percent of those in Africa and Asia. Two-thirds of maternal deaths in
2000 occurred in 13 of the world's poorest countries. The same year,
India alone accounted for one-quarter of all maternal deaths. In
Bangladesh, maternal mortality is 360 per 100,000. One out of every
16 sub-Saharan African women dies as a result of pregnancy or
childbirth, compared to just 1 out of every 4,000 in industrialised
countries. Moreover, motherless newborns are between 3 to 10 times
more likely to die than newborns whose mothers are alive. Many of
these women's lives could be saved with access to basic health care
services, including skilled birth attendants, and emergency
obstetrics care.

Women in old age: Elderly women often face double discrimination
because of both gender and age. Women tend to live longer than men,
and they generally lack control of family resources and face
discrimination from inheritance laws. Many older women are forced
into poverty at a stage of life when they are most vulnerable. Only a
few developing countries have safety nets for older people in the
form of non-contributory or means-tested pensions. Bangladesh also
has no such scheme.

Grandmothers in particular possess a great deal of knowledge and
experience related to all aspects of maternal and child care. They
are often a mainstay of child care for working parents. Experience
has shown that children's rights are advanced when programs initiated
to benefit children and families also include elderly women.

It is clear that women face discrimination from the period of being
conceived until death. Women of all ages have to pay for such
inequalities, often with their lives. The consequences of the
prejudice are very serious for an economically backward country like
Bangladesh. For example, the endemic malnutrition that prevails in
the society due to deprivation of women saps the productivity of the
population, creating serious obstacles for the progress of the
nation. To overcome such obstacles, discrimination against women
throughout the lifecycle must be ended, and opportunities created for
them. This will, in turn, require ending of patriarchy, and the
National Girl Child Day is celebrated every year on September 30 to
create awareness about it.

Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar is President, The Girl Child Advocacy Forum.
This article is based on The State of the World's Children 2007.

UNESCAP, India to celebrate non-violence day
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/UNESCAP_Indi
a_to_celebrate_non-violence_day/articleshow/2411330.cms

28 Sep, 2007, 1320 hrs IST, AGENCIES

BANGKOK: The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia
and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and Indian embassy will hold the first
observance of the International Day of non-violence at the UN
Conference Centre here next week.

The UN General Assembly had announced in June that October 2 would be
observed as the International Day of non-violence in memory of
Mahatma Gandhi.

It invited all governments, organisations of the UN, regional and non-
governmental organisations and individuals to commemorate the day and
to disseminate the message of non-violence.

India's Minister for Panchayati Raj Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar will
unveil a bust of Mahatma Gandhi, which is a gift to UNESCAP from
India.

Noeleen Heyzer, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of
UNESCAP, will address the event.

The programme will also include a message from UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon, a rendition of Mahatma Gandhi' favourite Hindi
inspirational hymns by singer Tara Srinidhi and a musical performance
by Sophie Tanapura, soprano and founder of the Metropolitan Opera of
Bangkok.

Drug-haul cover-up?
http://www.hardnewsmedia.com/portal/2007/09/1223

The Narcotics Control Bureau is sitting tight on an important
investigation even as illegal drug use in the country shows an upward
trend

Akash Bisht Delhi

On the day when the BJP leader Pramod Mahajan was shot dead by his
brother, another news item was jostling for the headlines. The
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seized 200 kgs of cocaine, worth Rs
500 crore, tucked inside a container that had come from Hong Kong to
the Jawahar Lal Nehru Port, Mumbai. While the Mahajan saga continued
to occupy prime space on television and in newspapers, the record
drug haul story mysteriously disappeared.

More than ten months later, this drug haul is being discussed in
hushed tones in political and enforcement circles. Suggestions of
shady Indian companies pulling strings to rescue the cocaine from the
maalkhana (police storehouse) are going around. There are even
rumours that crooks are replacing the cocaine with talcum powder.

Even though this allegation may be far-fetched, the truth is that the
enforcement agencies have not really tried to get to the bottom of
the cocaine haul. There is no clarity as to who sent it and for whom.
The NCB claims that the ship, after leaving Ecuador, stopped at
Japan, Shanghai and Hong Kong ports, before reaching Mumbai. Although
sources say the drugs were eventually headed for Spain, the NCB has
refused to comment on their likely destination. According to an NCB
official, "No investigation was done after the seizure. No official
was sent to Ecuador to find out about the people involved in this.
Since the consignment was not meant for India, not much investigation
was needed." But no answers are forthcoming to the disturbing
question about why this sensational seizure is being hushed up.

It took the NCB 15 years to zero in on Kanoui Julian, a French
national who is a notorious drug supplier and has been on the most
wanted list for a long time. Julian was finally caught by the NCB in
New Delhi earlier this month. Documents pertaining to a container
that was sent to Belgium were recovered from his possession. Julian,
in his statement made during interrogation, also revealed that he has
been shipping more than five containers of hashish worth crores of
rupees, every year, from India to various European destinations.

In spite of these dramatic disclosures, NCB officials insist that
India is no longer a transit point for drug traffickers, because of
the fencing of the LoC between India and Pakistan. "The drug
trafficking in Asia has been taken over by Albanians and now most of
the drugs from Afghanistan are first sent to Albania and then to
Russia, from where they enter Europe," said Shankar Rao, head of the
Delhi zone of the NCB.

If the NCB is to be believed, most of the drug cartels operating in
India have already been busted and only small time peddlers remain.
Officials from the agency say the north-eastern states are witnessing
a downward trend in heroin abuse, mainly due to the AIDS scare and
the traumatic withdrawal symptoms experienced by addicts deprived of
the drug.

However, there is an upward trend in the consumption of
pharmaceutical drugs, especially cough syrups, in the same region.
Cities like Ludhiana and Chandigarh and the countryside in Punjab are
also witnessing massive cocaine abuse while Goa and Mumbai continue
to show a high degree of party drugs consumption. Cocaine, ecstasy
and vile are the drugs of choice for high-profile celebrities —
especially those from the fashion fraternity. "Mumbai and Goa are
famous for rave parties where a lot of these so-called party drugs
are used. These posh parties are held secretly and it is difficult to
know about their whereabouts. A lot of teenagers from influential
families have started to experiment with these drugs and their
numbers are growing," emphasised Rao.

However, the NCB's claims of busting drug cartels and decreased drug
use in India are not being treated seriously by the US government's
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The DEA has reservations about the
Indian government's drug enforcement programme and the continuing
export of poppy and its derivatives from licit areas of cultivation.
Even reports from the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
suggest that the problem of drug addiction in the country is very
serious.

No hatred so common
By Russell Working
September 30, 2007
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-
antisemitism_thinksep30,0,2533445,full.story

Imagine you're walking down Michigan Avenue when a madman in soiled
pajamas and a tinfoil Viking hat strides up. He hands you a
photocopied cartoon of an ogre with a Star of David on his chest. The
creature is devouring a baby. You speed up. So does your new friend.
He mutters: Hey buster, listen up. See, it's all their fault. These
wars? They're to blame. The Holocaust? They bought it on. The bake
the blood of children into matzos. They use "Tom and Jerry" cartoons,
Lions Clubs and AIDS to dominate the world. You know who I mean: The
Jews.

So how to deal with this fellow? A) Secure him a professorship at a
leading university. B) Hire him to produce a television series. C)
Appoint him to a position of power and allow him to deliver policy
speeches to UN agencies. D) All of the above.

If you answered "D," you are on to something. Or so one is tempted to
conclude when considering the resurgence of the ancient madness known
as anti-Semitism.

In its scope, anti-Semitism is rare among Earth's infinite hatreds.
Hutus exterminated Tutsis in Rwanda, Christians are targeted in China
and Iraq, and Muslims see persecution in many lands, from India to
France to the U.S. Discrimination is a daily fact of American life,
not just for blacks but for Asians, Latinos and Native Americans.

But few hatreds unite such a vast range of establishment voices
worldwide. The perfidy of the Jews is espoused by Syrian authors,
Lebanese TV anchors, Italian cartoonists, Egyptian newsmen and heads
of state from Malaysia to the Mediterranean. And it is coming home to
roost once again in Europe.

Matthias Kuentzel, a German scholar who has traced the influence of
Adolf Hitler in the Muslim world, says Judeophobia is at its worst
level since the Nazi era. The Middle East conflicts fuel anger at
Israel, but this is more than just frustrated people blowing off
steam.

It is a demonology that encompasses all Jews, wherever they live or
whatever their stand on Israel. It is an "infrastructure of the soul"
for those who embrace it, Kuentzel says.

Consider: The madman's tirade above was based on real sources:

Editorial cartoons across the Middle East and Europe portray Israelis
as ogres who devour babies, drawing on medieval and Nazi imagery.

The Irish News—following the lead of many other media—published a
cartoon last year depicting an Orthodox Jew controlling Pentagon
policy.

A store on Devon Avenue in Chicago sells books by a Turkish author
who argues that Zionist leaders cooperated with the Nazis in
organizing the Holocaust against their own people.

In 2003, a Lebanese television series dramatized Jews kidnapping and
murdering Christian children and draining their blood to make matzos.
In a translation by the Middle East Media Research Institute, a rabbi
munches the unleavened bread and observes, "This one is tastier and
holier because it was kneaded with pure blood, the blood of Joseph."
Similar claims routinely circulate in the Islamic world.

The Hamas charter blames Jews for evils dating to the French
Revolution. The document also may be history's first revolutionary
manifesto that lists, as a cause for war, an imaginary plot by Jews
to control the world through Lions and Rotary clubs.

Egyptian and Jordanian newspapers have reported that Jews were
selling drug-laced gum. Other accounts blame the spread of AIDS on
Jewish doctors purposely infecting children with HIV.

A cultural adviser to the Iranian Education Ministry went on state
television last year to explain that "Tom and Jerry" was part of a
Jewish plot to improve the image of rodents, because Jews are, after
all, regarded as "dirty mice."

It's not just the Islamic world in which bigotry threatens. The
Community Security Trust, a British group that helps Jewish
organizations set up security, tracked 412 attacks on Jewish targets
outside Israel in the 25 years following 1968.

Stores were bombed in Paris; Lima, Peru; and Melbourne, Australia. In
2003, bombs at two synagogues in Istanbul killed 25 and wounded more
than 300. A bomb outside a kindergarten in Vienna in 1982 failed to
go off. It takes a certain level of indoctrination to conclude that 5-
year-olds pose a danger so grave they must be eradicated with TNT.

The United States tends to be a safe part of the world for Jews, but
it takes only one nut to endanger others. Last year a gunman offered
his contribution toward the liberation of Palestine by forcing his
way inside a Seattle Jewish center with a gun in the back of a 14-
year-old girl. He then wounded five women and shot another dead,
police said.

The man has pleaded insanity. How that distinguishes him from other
anti-Semites is another issue.

(A word here on terminology: Arabs often say that because they are
Semitic peoples, it is absurd to call an Arab "anti-Semitic." But the
term traditionally has been defined as an animus toward the Jewish
people, and that is how it is used here.)

Some people, including many Jews, who decry anti-Semitism as very
real and extremely ugly trace its worsening to Israel's occupation of
Palestinian land. It can be a tricky topic, holding Israel
accountable for its actions toward Palestinians without condoning
anti-Semitism.

"You don't want to say it's Jews' fault that there are anti-Semites,"
said Jesse Bacon of Jewish Voice for Peace-Chicago. "But it's more a
question of what could we concretely do in keeping with our own
values to lessen this problem. And I would suggest that would be
reaching a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

In Britain last year, attacks on Jews and other anti-Semitic
incidents reached their worst level on record, according to the
Community Security Trust. A parliamentary report last fall concluded
that anti-Semitism is going mainstream in the United Kingdom, and
that "has contributed to an atmosphere where Jews have become more
anxious and more vulnerable to abuse and attack than at any other
time for a generation or longer."

Studies in the European Union and Russia have drawn similar
conclusions.

Among the British victims was Jasmine Kranat, a north London Jewish
girl who went with a friend to buy fruit and yogurt to make smoothies
for a sleepover last summer. On the bus home, a group of Asian and
black teenage girls boarded the bus.

"One girl asked me, 'Are you English or Jewish?' " said Jasmine, who
was 12 at the time, in a phone interview.

She answered, "I'm English," but the girls attacked her. Ignoring her
friend, who was wearing a crucifix, the teens beat and stomped
Jasmine, fracturing her eye socket and knocking her out. Jasmine's
friend dragged her off the bus, and Jasmine was hospitalized.

The turning point in the resurgence of anti-Semitism was a UN-
sponsored anti-racism conference in South Africa in 2001, said Rabbi
Abraham Cooper, associate dean at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Los
Angeles-based group that battles bigotry worldwide.

That week, Iranians stormed a Wiesenthal news conference and turned
over tables. Thousands of Muslim trade unionists demonstrated against
Israel, some waving signs that read "Hitler was right." Police said
they couldn't guarantee Cooper's safety if he left his hotel. And
delegates voted to strike a condemnation of anti-Semitism from the
conference's final statement.

As Cooper and about 30 other Jewish delegates walked out, some 3,000
people purportedly committed to battling racism worldwide hooted and
jeered.

"The script for what it is we are struggling against was consecrated
at that conference," Cooper says.

Last month, planning began on a follow-up gathering to the 2001 anti-
racism conference in Durban. Jewish groups are already bracing for
Durban II in 2009, fearing it will bring more anti-Semitic bashing of
Israel.

An inventory of recent oral and written attacks on Jews by people of
power and stature is as long as it is appalling.

Abd Al-Rahman Al-Sudayyis, imam and preacher at the Grand Mosque in
Mecca, beseeched Allah to annihilate the Jews, reported the Middle
East Media Research Institute. After all, he said, they are "the scum
of the human race, the rats of the world, the violators of pacts and
agreements, the murderers of the prophets, and the offspring of apes
and pigs." Imagine the riots if Pope Benedict XVI spoke this way
about Muslims.

In April, the acting speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council
prayed this about Jews and Americans: "Allah, count them and kill
them to the last one and don't leave even one."

Surveying the intra-Palestinian fighting in Gaza, Egyptian liberal
author Kamal Gabriel recently wrote that the battle with Israel had
transformed from hatred of Zionism to a loathing of all Jews. And
that "culture and psychology of violence," once unleashed, threatens
Palestinians too.

"It starts with the Zionist enemy who is occupying the Holy Land, and
then the violence and the hatred spread dangerously, like fire, in
the psyche of the one over which [the violence and hatred] have
gained mastery," Gabriel wrote. These destructive tendencies "consume
everything around them—and the first thing they consume is the light
of reason."

Try telling that to the guy in the tinfoil hat.

rworking@...

Indian Poet Named Ambassador for Good Will World Peace Treaty
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/9/prweb557158.htm
Poet and three-time world record holder Nikhil Parekh is now elected
as Good Will Ambassador for the Good Will World Peace Treaty.

Ahmedabad, Gujarat (PRWEB) September 29, 2007 -- Nikhil Parekh, a 30
yr old poet from India has been elected Ambassador for the Good Will
World Peace Treaty. This treaty, a brainchild of Celebrity Consultant
and Inspirational Author Bryant McGill is aimed at spreading peace,
good will, compassion and a sense of humanitarian understanding
amidst all across the planet. Creator McGill, who'd earlier been
featured for his numerous poetic and humanitarian achievements on the
front page of Wall Street Journal, passionately says this about his
treaty, "The Treaty gives you a path of action, that if followed,
will make a difference. Our intention is to have all people sign this
treaty. It is further, our intention to have all people in positions
of power and influence sign this treaty by hand. Every city mayor,
governor, celebrity, entertainer, TV personality, major corporate
director, activist, foreign dignitary, senator, congressman, and
ultimately, all world leaders. Don't be the weak link, declare your
intentions with us now, and be the difference!".

Parekh, now the Indian Ambassador for the treaty, revealed that he
would be putting devoted number of hours each day to spread the
treaty and get as many people as possible to sign the same. His
efforts via the Internet would reach countless World Leaders,
Organizations, Individuals, Forums, Groups, Blogs, News Channels and
virtually every legitimately conceivable juncture to spread the
treaty and apprize the whole world about signing it. Parekh already
has 3 world records with India's number one Limca Book of Records
for --'Writing most number of letters to and receiving most number of
replies from World Leaders and World Organizations'-- 'Being 1st
Indian to win an EPPIE Award for best poetry ebook'-- 'Being 1st
Indian to be published in Commonwealth Newsletter for his poem on
AIDS'. He now plans to set a new record in approaching the maximum
number of people on earth and to have them sign the Good Will World
Peace Treaty. This is one record he says he'd cherish the most as it
aims at the dissemination of world peace; love and goodness.
Ambassador Nikhil Parekh can be visited at nikhilparekh.com or
authorsden.com/nikhilparekh for thousands of his poems, world
records, various works, achievements and books.

The Good Will Treaty for World Peace can be signed electronically as
well as can be downloaded to sign by hand and emailed back to the
organization, from its website goodwilltreaty.org.

Daughter, Twin, Author
Jenna Bush makes the case for safe sex in her new book about an HIV-
positive mother in Latin America.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21047653/site/newsweek/

By Lorraine Ali
Newsweek
Oct. 8, 2007 issue - Ana and Jenna don't have much in common. Ana's
father was a poor South American cabdriver who died before she hit
puberty. Jenna's dad became the 43rd president of the United States
the year she started college. But the two lives converged in 2006
when Jenna, a 25-year-old UNICEF intern, and Ana, a 17-year-old
single mother with HIV, met during an AIDS workshop in Latin America.
Out of that union came "Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope," a book by
Bush for young teens that aims to raise awareness about poverty, AIDS
and child abuse in developing countries. "In the U.S., we don't pay
as much attention to these things, that people all over the world are
living with these problems," says Bush. "The more you travel and talk
to those affected by HIV, the more you know. But I'm still learning a
lot, for sure."

Indian Court Denies HIV-positive Woman Custody of Daughter
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid49447.asp

An Indian court has denied an HIV-positive woman custody of her 8-
year-old daughter, a rights activist said Friday.

The woman, who was not identified to protect her privacy, married a
soldier from northwestern Rajasthan state in the late 1990s without
knowing that he was HIV-positive, said Kavita Srivastav, state
convener of the People's Union for Civil Liberties, a private rights
group.

Her husband died four years ago. After his death, her in-laws began
treating the woman badly and took her daughter on the grounds that
the mother had become HIV-positive, Srivastav said.

She moved to her parents' home and later approached a court in
Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, for custody of her daughter.

The court rejected her plea earlier this week, ruling that she would
not able to take care of her daughter because of her HIV-positive
status, Srivastav said.

The People's Union for Civil Liberties challenged the verdict in an
appeals court in Jaipur on Thursday. The court put the lower-court
decision on hold and has agreed to hear the petition, according to
the woman's attorney, Ajay Jain. (AP)

© 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not
be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Girl Trafficking From Nepal on the Rise: UN
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?
filename=aFanata0vfqzpba2Ua7wa.axamal&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteD
ate=20070926

Anil Giri

New Delhi, September 26At least 10,000 to 15,000 girls are being
trafficked from Nepal to India, the data revealed by the UN Regional
Office for South Asia for Prevention of Drugs and Crimes said.They
are allured to India of good job and sold there, head of the regional
office, Gary Lewis, said on Tuesday. He said illiteracy, poverty and
Nepal's long armed conflict and other economic and social causes are
behind it.The office, which stands as guardian of the UN protocol
against the trafficking, has continued to provide training to the
police who are working to check the human trafficking and other human
crimes, he said.

"We are actively involved in the programmes like implementation of
the laws, capacity building, rehabilitation of the victims in South
Asia, including Nepal," he said.

According to the project coordinator of the office Ajit Roy, the
number of displaced has surged in Nepal, problem of internal
migration has worsened and Kathmandu has prospered as a centre of
trafficking of women and children due to the long armed conflict."The
women and teenage girls who come to Kathmandu in search of the jobs
become soft targets for the pimps," Roy added.

Saying that AIDS and other sexual transmitted diseases were on the
rise due to the trafficking, he said the recent study conducted by a
US institution showed that 40 per cent of the sexual workers
returning to Nepal from different Indian cities carried HIV/AIDS.

Our office is working with some NGOs in Nepal for rehabilitation of
those returning to Nepal, he said.

In this context, a South Asia-level conference will be held in New
Delhi from October 9 to October 11, he said.

Deaf and dumb AIDS patient raped and killed
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=033b1843-
1e91-4db3-8e1d-306936251c9a&ParentID=7aba1965-7c57-4e70-acce-
9f107384db42&&Headline=Deaf+and+dumb+AIDS+patient+raped+and+killed

Press Trust Of India
Indore, July 06, 2007

A deaf and dumb woman, also affected with AIDS was allegedly raped
and killed by some unidentified persons in Indore on Friday, police
said.

  The victim was strangulated to death under mysterious circumstances,
police said, adding it appears that she has been raped by the accused.

Her body was found near her house in the Devendra Nagar area, without
proper clothing leading to suspicion that she was raped before being
killed.

The victim's husband also died some time back and he too was an AIDS
patient, police said, adding it has registered a case and further
probe is on.

Indians' sex life better than most: Survey
Only Greeks and Mexicans are ahead of us
Tribune News Service
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070926/main9.htm

New Delhi, September 25
Indian lovers are among the most open in the world about telling
their partners what they like to do in bed and have one of the most
exciting sex lives.

This inference has been drawn by a new global survey on sexual well-
being. `In the bedroom' is the second in the series of reports
generated by the Durex global survey.

It says, "Almost three quarters (74 per cent) of Indians are
comfortable with telling their partners what they like in bed — way
above the global average of 58 per cent and the UK number of 49 per
cent. We are beaten in this only by the Greeks (76 per cent) and
Mexicans (80 per cent)."

Although Indians are very frank with their partners about their
expectations in bed, 26 per cent are too shy with their lovers. More
than a third of those interviewed in India said that their sex lives
lack variety.

The survey has inferred that "Indians are very active with their
partners and 71 per cent of Indian lovers have sex at least once a
week with 19 per cent making love at least five times a week or more."

Indians also indulge in a wide range of bedroom antics. "These
include sensual massages and erotic materials for 55 per cent of us,
with sexual fantasies (58 per cent) topping the menu for boosting our
libido,'' says the report.

The findings of the survey are based on interviews with 26,000 people
in 26 countries. Commissioned by Durex and carried out by Harris
Interactive, the survey conducted online in August and September
questioned respondents about all aspects of their sex lives,
including what they do in the bedroom.

Almost half (45 per cent) of the Indian lovers interviewed expressed
their desire to increase their knowledge about how they could please
their partner.

The study found that masturbation is widely practised in India as
almost nine out of 10 (87 per cent) Indians have masturbated at some
time in their lives, compared to 83 per cent globally. More than four
out of 10 Indians (41 per cent) masturbate once a week.

Indians have had fewer lovers than respondents in other countries.
While Indian men on an average have six partners, women have two
partners. In the UK, the figures are 16 and 10 respectively.

Almost six in 10 (57 per cent) Indians think it is acceptable for
products aimed at improving sex lives to be available in mainstream
stores. At present, only 9 per cent of Indians use vibrators compared
to 21 per cent the world over. One-third of Indians use lubricants
which is close to the global figure of 34 per cent. Compared to most
other nations, Indians seem a little reluctant to experiment. "While
22 per cent of us would like to try massage oils, only nine per cent
of Indians are interested in an orgasm-enhancing gel and only seven
per cent would consider aphrodisiacs or pheromones,'' says the report
generated by the survey.

Indian men feel less inhibited than women. While 51 per cent of
Indian women say they feel self-conscious during sex, only 45 per
cent of Indian men agree.

Sources in Durex say that the survey will enable them remain at the
forefront in helping people fulfil their sexual desires and enjoy
better sex. "The results will help us keep abreast of sexual
attitudes and behaviour of people in India and across the globe."

New York state isn't waiting to stop funding abstinence-only sex
education programs.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/09/21/2007-09-
21_new_york_state_holds_out_on_abstinenceon.html

Officials announced this week that state money will now go solely to
programs that offer more comprehensive information about preventing
pregnancy and sexual health.

New York state Health Commissioner Richard Daines, in a statement on
the department's Web site, stated that "The Bush administration's
Abstinence-Only program is an example of a failed national health
care policy directive, based on ideology rather than on sound
scientific-based evidence that must be the cornerstone of good public
health care policy."

Since 1998, the state had receieved up to $3.7 million annually in
federal money earmarked for abstinence-only programs. An additional
$2.6 million in state money was given to the programs on a yearly
basis.

Starting October 1, the state money will be funneled into sex
education programs that provide a full range of information about
preventing pregnancy and disease.

State officials decided in July not to reapply for federal money, and
the mainly religious organizations that provided the abstinence-based
programs were told their fuding would not be renewed.

"We're very unhappy," said John Graham of Catholic Charities in
Onondaga County, one of the organizations that received the federal
funding. "We were having a pretty effective program with the families
and children we were working with," he said. "And now, we're not able
to do that."

Health Department spokesperson Claudia Hutton said, "We want to
invest in programs with a better track record, that will acknowledge
that there are many viewpoints about sex."

IGNOU study centres in jails, brothels
19 Sep 2007, 0337 hrs IST,B K Mishra,TNN

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Patna/IGNOU_study_centres_in
_jails_brothels/articleshow/2381711.cms

PATNA: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is perhaps
the only institution of higher education in the country to have
started its study centres in prisons and red light areas. Over 17
IGNOU study centres are functioning in different prisons, including
Beur Central Jail at Patna and Tihar Central Jail in Delhi.

IGNOU pro VC Devendra K Chaudhary told TOI that since the study
centre of Beur Jail was not functioning properly for some time, DIG
(prisons) has been requested to take necessary steps towards it. Jail
inmates were taking keen interest in pursuing various courses of
their choice at different jails in the country.

Special study programmes on HIV/AIDS awareness has been launched by
IGNOU for the sex workers in different red light areas and is likely
to be launched in Muzaffarpur soon.

Chaudhary pointed out that IGNOU programmes were quite popular in
Bihar as more than 67,000 students have enrolled in 67 different
programmes. IGNOU has over 15 lakh enrollments across the country in
its 160 programmes.

With a view to decentralise its functioning, IGNOU has decided to set
up five zonal offices, one each in the north, south, east, west and
north-east regions. Besides, regional centres are likely to get more
autonomy in academic and administrative matters. Under its motto
of "reaching the unreached" IGNOU has been striving hard to set up
its study centres in remote and educationally backward areas.

In Bihar, there are two regional centres in Patna and Darbhanga. It
has also launched a school of translation for getting its study
materials translated in different regional languages, said Chaudhary.

IGNOU has already started a unique venture in Bihar by introducing a
diploma course in primary education. Nearly 2.40 lakh school teachers
will be trained by IGNOU under this state-sponsored project.

As many as 40,000 teachers are to be trained every six months and the
state government has paid a sum of Rs 16.80 crore to IGNOU for the
purpose.

This scheme has already been implemented in Jammu and Kashmir,
Jharkhand and the north-east, Chaudhary added.