Factbox: Vaccines: the Holy Grail of AIDS research

July 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – A major international conference on AIDS starts in Vienna on July 18, when thousands of scientists, health workers, activists, and government officials will gather to discuss the latest advances against the disease.

There are many drugs to treat HIV and prevention and measures have been deployed try to stop its spread, but so far there is no vaccine against the human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS.

However, this year’s meeting comes as optimism among scientists about the prospect of developing vaccine is at its highest for a decade.

Here are some facts about the search for an AIDS vaccine, and some of the recent developments in the field:

* The AIDS virus is difficult to fight in part because it attacks immune system cells and in part because it is constantly mutating, making it a constantly moving target

* Researchers have been looking for parts of the virus that do not mutate so they can design vaccines that will protect against these constantly changing versions.

* In July 2010, researchers in the United States discovered antibodies that can protect against a wide range of AIDS viruses and said they may be able to use them to design a vaccine.

* In September 2009, researchers reported their biggest success yet with a vaccine that appeared to slow the rate of infection by about 30 percent in Thai volunteers, but the researchers have since described the effect as “weak” and “modest.” The vaccine is a combination of Sanofi-Aventis ALVAC canary pox vaccine and the failed HIV vaccine AIDSVAX, made by VaxGen and owned by a non-profit group called Global Solutions for Infectious Diseases.

* Also in September 2009, U.S. scientists said they had found two antibodies against HIV, called PG9 and PG16, which are known as broad neutralizing antibodies and can block the ability of a relatively large number of HIV variants to infect cells.

* There are currently around 100 clinical trials of potential AIDS vaccines going on around the world, but many of them are in the very earliest stages.

* Even a vaccine that is not 100 percent effective or is not given to 100 percent of at-risk populations could have significant benefits. According to the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), a vaccine that is 50 percent effective and given to just 30 percent of the population could cut the number of new HIV infections in developing countries by 24 percent over 15 years.

* SOURCES: Reuters, IAVI

(Writing by Kate Kelland, editing by Elizabeth Fullerton)

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Nigeria cleans “poisoned” villages, treats children

June 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

KADUNA, Nigeria, June 7 (Reuters) – Health workers have set up emergency treatment centres in northern Nigeria for scores of children suffering from lead poisoning and are racing to contain contamination which has already killed more than 160 people.

High levels of lead have contaminated water supplies in at least six villages in Zamfara state, close to where residents were illegally mining for gold. More than 350 cases have been reported over the past few months and 111 of the dead are children, many aged under five. [ID:nLDE6531H5]

Nigeria has asked for help from international agencies including the World Health Organisation, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and New York-based anti-pollution consultancy the Blacksmith Institute.

The Dutch arm of aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), which works in northern Nigeria, has brought in special drugs to treat villagers found with high levels of lead in their blood.

Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, one of the officials co-ordinating the emergency response, said villages had been screened and patients were being taken to treatment centres away from the exposure zone where they would be kept for 28 days.

“They have been able to characterise the epidemic in terms of who is affected, where is the most affect and where is the source of the problem,” Sani-Gwarzo told Reuters.

He said aid agencies, Zamfara’s local government and the federal Ministry of Health were involved in a multi-pronged effort to treat patients, isolate the contamination, clean up homes and educate the local population before heavy rains next month, which risk spreading the pollution further.

NO NEW CASES

Zamfara state government said it had released more than 240 million naira ($1.6 million) to help with the operation.

“For the last week or so, we have had no new cases. The challenge now is to treat the people,” Dr Henry Akpan, the federal Health Ministry’s chief epidemiologist, told Reuters.

The villages affected, including Dareta and Giadanbuzu, are largely made of mud-brick buildings and lie in the poor, arid Sahel region on the southern fringe of the Sahara, where many people work as miners and subsistence farmers.

Many victims died after coming into contact with tools, soil and water contaminated with large concentrations of lead.

Too much lead can damage parts of the body including the nervous and reproductive systems and the kidneys. Lead is especially harmful to young children and pregnant women.

Villagers had initially thought the high rates of infant mortality were caused by malaria.

Sani-Gwarzo said health workers were training local villagers to manage the clean-up themselves and were translating educational materials into the local Hausa language to try inform people and prevent a recurrence.

“What gets me a little worried is the fact that this is linked to human behaviour that has economic benefits. We need to educate the population very well to be able to modify their behaviour,” he said. (For more Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: af.reuters.com/ ) (Additional reporting by Randy Fabi; Writing by Nick Tattersall)

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Caffeine helps reduce mistakes made by shift workers

May 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, May 12 (AN): A shot of caffeine can reduce mistakes made by drowsy shift workers, says a new study.

The study by Cochrane researchers has implications for health workers and for any industry relying on shift or night work, such as transportation.

More than 15 percent of workers in industrialised countries are involved in some shift or night time work, which may upset natural circadian rhythms or ”body clocks”. In so-called shift work disorder (SWD), workers sleep only for short periods and consequently can become very sleepy during working hours. Sleepiness is thought to increase the risk of adverse events such as traffic crashes, occupational injuries and medical errors.

The researchers reviewed data from 13 trials studying the effects of caffeine on performance in shift workers, mostly in simulated working conditions. Caffeine was given in coffee, pills, energy drinks or caffeinated food. In some trials, performance was assessed by tasks such as driving, whereas in others it was assessed by neuropsychological tests. Caffeine appeared to reduce errors compared to placebos or naps, and improve performance in various neuropsychological tests, including those focusing on memory, attention, perception and concept formation and reasoning.

None of the trials measured injuries directly, but improved performance may translate into reduced numbers of injuries caused by sleepiness, according to researchers.

“It seems reasonable to assume that reduced errors are associated with fewer injuries, although we cannot quantify such a reduction,” says lead researcher Katharine Ker of the London School of Tropical Medicine in London, UK.

The average age in most trials was between 20 and 30 years and thus, because the effect of disruption to the circadian rhythm varies with age, there is still a need for more research on how caffeine affects alertness in older workers. The study also finds that there is a need for research to explore the effects of caffeine compared to other measures in order to reduce errors made by shift workers. (ANI)

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Brit kids as young as 8 being given condoms

April 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, April 24 (ANI): A charity has earned itself the ire of a mother after it offered condoms to her daughter and eight-year-old nephew, as part of a safe sex campaign.

Samantha Fuller only discovered what had happened when she found a stash of condoms in her 13-year-old daughter”s bedroom.

Taxpayer-funded charity health workers, who hand out condoms on park bushes for homosexuals who meet for public sex, spotted the children playing and began handing out the contraceptives.

Fuller, 38, who said the incident totally undermined her role as a parent, said her nephew was also in the park in Beverley, East Yorks, at the time the condoms were offered, but he refused to take them as he had “no idea what they were”.

“My daughter”s sexual health is my responsibility. It”s not that of a stranger giving out condoms,” the Daily Express quoted her as saying.

“I feel she is being encouraged to have sex and she is being encouraged to be deceitful.

“It”s not right. I was fuming when I found out she has access to condoms without me knowing about it,” she stated.

The contraceptives had been handed out by outreach workers from the Yorkshire Cornerhouse project and East Riding Youth Service during a visit to public spaces in Beverley.

Cornerhouse, formerly known as Aids Action, receives the vast majority of its funding from local authorities.

They confirmed they handed out condoms but insisted they were only offered to children over the age of 13.

Fuller, who has lodged a formal complaint, wants parents to know children are being given condoms on the streets without being asked for proof of age or identity.

“This person said ”We are handing out free condoms if you are interested”,” she said.

“My nephew, who”s eight years old, was offered them at the park,” she revealed.

Fuller said her daughter is not sexually active but had taken the condoms from the health workers “for a laugh”.

“I am not opposed to sexual education but as parents we need to know what services are available so if our children come to us we can say ”If you don”t feel comfortable speaking to me you can go here or there”,” she said.

“She”s my daughter – she”s not the Government”s daughter, the council”s daughter or the youth centre”s daughter.

“They will not care about my daughter if anything happens. It”s my responsibility,” she stated.

The staff at the Yorkshire Cornerhouse project said chief executive Tish Lamb was unavailable to speak.

But in a statement she said: “The idea of street-based projects is to enable people who maybe don”t have access to mainstream services having access to support, advice and anything they might need to know about sexual well-being.”

East Riding Youth Service manager Jackie Brewis responded to the complaint and said: “Whilst also encouraging young people to delay sex and speak to their parents and carers, we also have a responsibility to offer them confidential advice and support with the aim of reducing teenage pregnancy.” (ANI)

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Rudd announces health funding in CQ

April 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Prime Minister says the future of health is a system that’s funded nationally but run locally.

Kevin Rudd has told Gladstone health workers, local control will focus on areas of need.

He has announced around $3-million will be made available to create clinical training placements for regional areas, including Gladstone.

“What we’re proposing is a system that is funded nationally but run locally but run locally so that here in regional Queensland you can make more and more local decisions about the priorities that you have here,” he said.

“And we the Australian Government will be funding local hospital networks directly, that’s the big change for the future.”

Mr Rudd also announced $67 million to provide a range of cancer services at the Rockhampton Hospital.

“It means that we’re going to be able to ensure that we have the commissioning of three radio therapy bunkers, the construction of a third bunker, 16 chemotherapy chairs, this will enable us to provide more comprehensive cancer care here,” he said.

Victoria Bradshaw from Cancer Council Queensland says the new facilities will reduce the need for cancer patients to travel to Brisbane.

“People within our region, Rockhampton and the surrounding region can actually get the care that they need close to home surrounded by their family and friends,” she said.

“So it’s a pretty stressful time a cancer diagnosis and indeed living with cancer so to have these treatment facilities on our door step it really is tremendous news.”

Queensland Health’s central region Chief Executive says she’s delighted with the funding contributions the Federal Government is making to regional healthcare.

Doctor Coralee Barker says the extra funding announced by the Prime Minister will purchase much needed equipment.

“The announcements that are happening throughout central Queensland and indeed all of Australia, is fabulous,” she said.

It’s a huge injection, a major shot in the arm and we’re very grateful so we’ve been looked after quite well.

“We had the MRI and now the cancer centre and of course the announcement for Gladstone.”

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Call goes out for more rural health leaders

April 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Medical and nursing students will gather in Wollongong over the next three days to learn how they can help provide leadership roles in rural health services.

More than 100 students from across Australia will attend a seminar at the University of Wollongong aimed at developing their skills in rural areas.

Convener Shannon Nott says a new generation of professionals is needed to replace ageing country doctors and health workers.

“There’s a demographic time bomb existing here in rural and remote Australia in terms of current health professionals nearing the age of retirement over the next five to 10 years,” he said.

“What we’re seeing is that we’re having a void of young leaders within rural and remote health setting.”

Mr Nott says a new breed of leaders is needed to advocate for services, as more doctors and health workers retire.

“We know that health professionals in rural and remote settings have been the real champions in many instances [in the] push for further facilities for the community, to make sure that their best interests are met and that they’re made aware of government bodies and politicians,” he said.

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Call goes out for more rural health leaders

April 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Medical and nursing students will gather in Wollongong over the next three days to learn how they can help provide leadership roles in rural health services.

More than 100 students from across Australia will attend a seminar at the University of Wollongong aimed at developing their skills in rural areas.

Convener Shannon Nott says a new generation of professionals is needed to replace ageing country doctors and health workers.

“There’s a demographic time bomb existing here in rural and remote Australia in terms of current health professionals nearing the age of retirement over the next five to 10 years,” he said.

“What we’re seeing is that we’re having a void of young leaders within rural and remote health setting.”

Mr Nott says a new breed of leaders is needed to advocate for services, as more doctors and health workers retire.

“We know that health professionals in rural and remote settings have been the real champions in many instances [in the] push for further facilities for the community, to make sure that their best interests are met and that they’re made aware of government bodies and politicians,” he said.

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Funds boost for allied health services

April 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Federal Government has announced funding to improve allied health services in far north Queensland.

The Government will provide funding for 100 additional placements each year to help train allied health students in rural Australia.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the funding will double the number of allied health scholarships on offer.

“In the major cities there are something like 354 allied health professionals per 100,000 people but in very remote areas that can be only 64 allied health professionals per 100,000 people. We are determined to start to close this gap,” he said.

The chief executive of Rural Health Workforce Australia, Kim Webber, has welcomed the announcement but she says more needs to be done to attract more allied health workers to regional areas.

“If you look at what GPs are provided with in rural areas they get special retention payments, they get relocation grants to move from the city,” he said.

“We help people come from overseas if they’re a GP, so you know all those kind of incentives we’d like to see broadened to allied health professionals.”

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Scientists developing 3-in-1 ”dipstick’ test for early detection of parasitic diseases

March 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, March 23 (ANI): Scientists are trying to develop a 3-in-1 ”dipstick” test for early detection of parasitic diseases such as Chagas” disease, leishmaniasis, and African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness).

Most cases of these diseases are identified at a late stage, and together they cause tens of thousands of deaths each year and untold suffering. The drugs used to treat late-stage infections are often toxic and have potentially fatal side effects.

Ellen Beaulieu, a medicinal chemist in the Center for Infectious Diseases in the Biosciences Division of SRI International in Menlo Park, Calif., said: “Early diagnosis is the key to improving treatment of these diseases.

“Diagnosis with conventional tests is difficult in developing countries where these diseases occur. We hope that our low-cost, simple test will play a role in helping poorer parts of the world combat these diseases and the poverty they engender.”

The new test exploits the common heritage of the parasites that cause Chagas, leishmaniasis, and African sleeping sickness. All three are closely related members of what scientists know as the trypanosomatidae family. Working together with Mary Tanga, Senior Director of Medicinal Chemistry in SRI”s Biosciences Division, Beaulieu and colleagues developed special dyes that allow detection of an early disease stage. Moreover, the test does not require the use of sophisticated lab equipment, and can produce results in as little as one hour.

Initial tests under laboratory conditions show that the dyes reveal the presence of the parasite marker and glow in ultraviolet light from a simple, handheld lamp. SRI researchers are now trying to improve the sensitivity of the dyes.

The goal is to develop a “dipstick” test that allows detection of the parasite metabolite using a simple paper strip like those used in urine tests for diabetes. Such a test could allow health workers in remote areas to diagnose the diseases by dipping the strip in a drop of blood and exposing it to ultraviolet light.

The test was described at the 239th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society. (ANI)

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Alcohol trading hours cut

March 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A Queensland parliamentary committee looking into alcohol-related violence has recommended weekday trading hours be wound back to no later than 2am in entertainment precincts and 1am elsewhere.

In its report tabled this morning, the bipartisan committee recommends 4am trading on the weekend in the entertainment precincts, and 3am elsewhere, with all premises subject to a 2am lock-out.

It has also called for precincts to be declared as such and to have a management plan.

The committee has also recommended mandatory use of tempered glass or polycarbonate after midnight in all venues, other than those deemed to be low risk.

It says free water should be made available to patrons.

Closing hours for detached bottleshops are recommended to be wound back from 10pm to 9pm.

The committee says it supports increased penalties for violent offenders, and for more resources for police and liquor licensing authorities.

It has also recommended police and the courts have the power to ban offenders from the designated entertainment precincts.

The inquiry heard submissions from across Queensland on ways to curb alcohol-related attacks.

The committee held three public hearings and received more than 130 public submissions.

Other issues under consideration included the culture of drinking and the role parents can play in educating children.

The impact of alcohol-related violence on emergency service and health workers was also been considered.

Inquiry chairwoman, Labor MP Barbara Stone, says earlier closing will not hurt pubs and clubs around the state.

“We had a look at what people in the community … expect and we had a look at traders when they spoke to us [and] were telling us that their peak times are that Friday, Saturday night,” she said.

“So we don’t believe we have impacted too much on their best trading times.”

Queensland Police Union (QPU) president Ian Leavers said yesterday the State Government should adopt the 2am curfew for pubs and clubs, as applies in the city of Newcastle.

“They’ve seen a 20 to 30 per cent reduction in general crime [and] a 30 per cent reduction in serious violent assaults and as well as sexual assaults,” he said.

Police Minister Neil Roberts said yesterday he personally agrees with the QPU view.

“The industry I’m sure will be able to survive whatever the final hours are,” he said.

“I have a personal view that we don’t need to go through until 5am but ultimately we need to take into account all views and obviously this report will be a significant milestone in terms of dealing with alcohol-fuelled issues in community.”

Queensland Nurses Union (QNU) assistant secretary Beth Mohle also said yesterday there should be stricter penalties for drunken attacks on hospital staff.

“We really do want to see that those sort of like avenues pursued in circumstances where there is violence towards nurses and other health workers,” she said.

Identification scanners

Pubs and clubs will also be encouraged to install identification scanners under recommendations being put to Queensland Parliament.

As part of the proposal, venues using the technology could be given a reduction in license fees.

Law, Justice and Safety committee member Dean Wells has expressed concerns that the measure could create identity and privacy issues.

Committee chairwoman Barbara Stone says ID scanners can help to reduce violence.

“Knowing that there’s going to be a picture of them, their driver’s licence, their details if anything happens – that’s there, that’s there for police, that’s there for the club to say you’re not coming back,” she said.

“Now I don’t know about you but I’d be pretty upset if I wasn’t allowed to go to back to a club with my friends and enjoy my Friday night.”

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J-K to make rural service must for medicos

March 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Jammu, Mar 5 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir Government is contemplating to make rural services mandatory for all doctors to improve health facilities in rural areas of the state.

Addressing the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) meeting State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced that those medicos who serve in rural areas under the NRHM scheme would get additional points in the Public Service Commission (PSC) selection process.

He stressed on achieving maximum physical and financial targets under NRHM and asked the authorities to conduct a survey for grading districts on basis of achievements.

In his address Abdullah also asked to conduct weekly review of all works under the NRHM and to conduct a survey on Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and he added that himself will conduct a quarterly review.

He also asked the officials to make health workers more responsible for pre-natal, post-natal care and immunization by extending lucrative incentives.

He assured the meeting that the State Government would approach the Centre for seeking flexibilities of criteria under various central sponsored schemes like Serva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), NRHM and others.

Abdullah said his government has urged the Planning Commission of India to release at least 50 per cent of allocations under all centrally sponsored schemes in April of every year. (ANI)

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Swine flu pandemic is ‘unstoppable’, says WHO official

July 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, July 14 (ANI): With 12 new deaths owing to swine flu being reported, a World Health Organisation (WHO) official has said that the deadly pandemic has become “unstoppable”, and all nations need an immediate access to vaccines.

Britain, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, the Philippines, and Thailand all reported deaths on July 13, while Saudi Arabia shut an international school after 20 students were diagnosed with the deadly A(H1N1) virus.

In response to the increasing death toll, Marie-Paul Kieny, WHO director on vaccine research, has said that a swine flu vaccine should be available as early as September, and all countries would need to be able to protect themselves. group of vaccination experts concluded after a recent meeting that “the H1N1 pandemic is unstoppable and therefore all countries would need to have access to vaccines,” the Telegraph quoted Kieny as saying.

In her opinion, health workers should be the first ones to be vaccinated, as they will be in high demand as people continue to fall sick.

She said that while countries would be free to decide on their national priorities, other groups should include pregnant women and anyone over six months old who has chronic health problems.

Kieny asked for special emphasis on children since they are considered “amplifiers” of the spread of the virus, especially when gathered in schools.

More than 90,000 swine flu cases have been reported worldwide, including 429 deaths, according to the most recent WHO numbers. (ANI)

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Protest against Delhi High Court decision on Article 377 on homosexuality in Delhi

July 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, July 5 (ANI): A group of Sikh and Hindu activists staged a demonstration in the national capital to protest the Delhi High Court’s recent verdict on Article 377.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday decriminalised Article 377, allowing consensual sex between persons of same gender above 18 years of age.

Members of National Akali Dal along with members of Santan Dharam Sabha, a Hindu organisation, staged the protest and demanded government authorities to step in to prevent passing of the law.

“We are planning to meet the President and the Home Minister. If we do not get assurance from them within a week we will move to the Supreme Court and contest our case there,” Manohar Lal Kumar, one of the activists said.

The current law bans “sex against the order of nature,” and is widely interpreted to mean homosexual sex in India.

The court’s decision to overturn a British colonial era law on same-gender sex dismayed various religious groups but led to a wave of delight among gay activists and health workers.

The verdict can still be challenged in the Supreme Court.

The 1861 law prohibiting “sex against the order of nature”-widely interpreted to mean homosexual sex-has not yet been repealed and carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

Petitions to change the 1861 law have so far been firmly rejected by the Governments previously. But there has been some softening up on the stand recently with some ministers suggesting the possibility of revoking the ban was being discussed.

Thursday’s court verdict came after nine years of legal proceedings initiated by India’s gay groups. (ANI)

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Protest against Delhi High Court decision on Article 377 staged in Delhi

July 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, July 5 (ANI): A group of Sikh and Hindu activists staged a demonstration in the national capital to protest the Delhi High Court’s recent verdict on Article 377.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday decriminalised Article 377, allowing consensual sex between persons of same gender above 18 years of age.

Members of National Akali Dal along with members of Santan Dharam Sabha, a Hindu organisation, staged the protest and demanded government authorities to step in to prevent passing of the law.

“We are planning to meet the President and the Home Minister. If we do not get assurance from them within a week we will move to the Supreme Court and contest our case there,” Manohar Lal Kumar, one of the activists said.

The current law bans “sex against the order of nature,” and is widely interpreted to mean homosexual sex in India.

The court’s decision to overturn a British colonial era law on same-gender sex dismayed various religious groups but led to a wave of delight among gay activists and health workers.

The verdict can still be challenged in the Supreme Court.

The 1861 law prohibiting “sex against the order of nature”-widely interpreted to mean homosexual sex-has not yet been repealed and carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

Petitions to change the 1861 law have so far been firmly rejected by the Governments previously. But there has been some softening up on the stand recently with some ministers suggesting the possibility of revoking the ban was being discussed.

Thursday’s court verdict came after nine years of legal proceedings initiated by India’s gay groups. (ANI)

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Up to 8,000 forced marriages reported in England last year

July 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, July 2 (ANI): As many as 8,000 cases of forced marriage were reported in England last year, according to a Government report.
According to The Telegraph, the study published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families claims that the overwhelming majority of victims are teenage girls from Pakistan or Bangladesh.

They are often coerced into getting married to preserve “family honour” rather than allow them to form relationships with boys from other cultures or religions, it is claimed, or to help others move to Britain.
The report says some of the young brides are forced to marry abroad after being taken on a supposed holiday then having their passports confiscated, while others are drugged or subjected to violence or threats if they protest.

Many forced marriages remain hidden because those involved are taken out of school, fear reporting relatives to the authorities or cannot obtain help overseas.

Some community groups in the UK also deny that the problem exists or claim that opposition to forced marriage is a form of racism, the new study says.

However the report calculates that, in 2008, between 5,275 and 7,750 cases were reported to the authorities in England.

The Foreign Office’s dedicated unit dealt with 420 cases last year – almost treble the 152 in 2005 – and has now issued guidance to health workers and teachers on how to spot potential victims. (ANI)

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Poor sleep linked to postpartum depression in women

July 1, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, July 1 (ANI): A new study has established a direct link between poor sleep and depression in women after giving birth.

Reported in the journal SLEEP, the study suggests that postpartum depression may aggravate an already impaired sleep quality, as experiencing difficulties with sleep is a symptom of depression.

A research article reveals that 21 percent of depressed postpartum women included in the study reported that they were also depressed during pregnancy, and that 46 percent reported at least one previous depressive episode prior to conception, suggesting that new mothers diagnosed with postpartum depression are not merely reporting symptoms of chronic sleep deprivation.

Experts behind the study say that their findings suggested that two months after delivery, poor sleep was associated with depression when adjusted for other significant risk factors, such as poor partner relationship, previous depression, depression during pregnancy and stressful life events.

Sleep disturbances and subjective sleep quality were the aspects of sleep most strongly associated with depression. Overall, nearly 60 percent of the postpartum women experienced poor global sleep quality, and 16.5 percent had depressive symptoms.

Lead author Dr. Karen Dxrheim, psychiatrist at Stavanger University Hospital in Norway, points out that depression after delivery is often not identified by new mothers, whereas tiredness and lack of sleep are common complaints.

The researcher says that these symptoms may be attributed to poor sleep, but the tiredness could also be caused by depression.

“It is important to ask a new mother suffering from tiredness about how poor sleep affects her daytime functioning and whether there are other factors in her life that may contribute to her lack of energy. There are also helpful depression screening questionnaires that can be completed during a consultation. Doctors and other health workers should provide an opportunity for postpartum women to discuss difficult feelings,” said Dxrhei.

For their study, the researchers collected data from 2,830 women who gave birth to a live child at Stavanger University Hospital in Norway between October 2005 and September 2006.

Their study suggested that depression, previous sleep problems, being a first time mother, not exclusively breastfeeding or having a younger or male infant were factors associated with poor postpartum sleep quality. It also showed that better maternal sleep was associated with the baby sleeping in a different room.

According to authors, the first three months after delivery are characterized by continually changing sleep parameters, and women who are tired during this period may attribute this to poor sleep, but the tiredness could alternatively be caused by depression; thus talking about sleep problems may provide an entry point for also discussing the woman’s overall well-being.

Individual women may react differently to shorter sleep duration and lower sleep efficiency during the postpartum period, and that the sleep of women with a history of depression may be more sensitive to the psychobiological (hormonal, immunological, psychological and social) changes associated with childbirth. (ANI)

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NHRC takes suo motu notice of Dalit discrimination in Madhya Pradesh

May 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 6 (ANI): The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of a news report published in two parts in The Hindustan Times on May 5 and 6 under the title “Apartheid” alleging how dalit kids are being discriminated against in four districts – Jhabua, Sheopur, Katni and Ujjain of Madhya Pradesh.

The report has also alleged that health workers in these districts avoid Dalit hamlets and examine women without touching them.

The Commission in its proceeding said, the report, if true, raises serious issue of violation of human rights of Dalits and has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh seeking his comments on the report within four weeks.

The Commission is also deputing its investigation team to visit the places mentioned in the reports to conduct an on the spot inquiry. The team will submit its report to the Commission within four weeks. (ANI)

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ASHA provides health care in Punjab villages

May 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Abohar, April 29 (ANI): With health awareness being minimal in rural Punjab, ASHA, a scheme launched by the Government of India under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), is benefiting villagers.

ASHA or, Accredited Social Health Activist, is bringing about a transformation, as the scheme spreads awareness about mother-child health.

One such ASHA is Roshni, who has undertaken a special task today. She is visiting a newly married couple in Sitto Village in Punjab’s Ferozepur district to counsel them on childbirth or preparations for childbirth, safe delivery and immunization.

In villages of Punjab, where there is not much health awareness, such counselling proves invaluable.

“In rural areas, people expect a child after a year of marriage. It’s a myth among uneducated people and they are unaware of the consequences to the child and the mother. As marriages in rural areas are held at a very young age, ASHA workers play an important role by visiting homes and educating people about consequences of an early pregnancy,” said Sunil Kumar, a newly married person.

There is one Accredited Social Health Activist for every 1,000 villagers, who interface between the community and the public health system.

Under the National Rural Health Mission scheme, ASHA workers not only create increased health awareness among women, but also increase the manpower of the health department.

The health workers are doing a commendable job, by implementing various health services and programs including registration of pregnancy, checking female foeticide, and immunization of children.

“The government has trained ASHA workers to control the rising Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR). ASHA workers are playing a significant role in getting pregnant women registered with local hospitals,” said Dr.Jaspal Singh, SMO, Shito Gunno Hospital.

ASHA workers work on honorarium basis. A worker would get four dollars for taking a pregnant woman for delivery to the government hospital and another eight dollars if she remains present with the mother and child after delivery.

She also receives four dollars for each tubectomy and vasectomy case and half-a-dollar for immunisation.

“We have benefited a lot from the scheme. Earlier, we were engaged in the housework the whole day. But, ASHA scheme is a source of income to us,” said Roshini, Asha worker.

These mid-wife counselors also educate women about family planning, maintaining of proper hygiene and educating the children.

ASHA workers have made a useful contribution in making the rural health mission a success.

Anyone eager to be part of ASHA, should be a woman resident of the village – married/ widowed/ divorced, preferably in the age group of 25 to 45 years.

She has to be a literate woman with formal education up to standard eight. This may be relaxed only if no suitable person with this qualification is available.

ASHA is chosen through a careful process of selection involving various community groups, self-help groups, Anganwadi Institutions, the Block Nodal officer, District Nodal officer, the village Health Committee and the Gram Sabha. By Avtar Gill (ANI)

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Over 20 killed over cattle in Central Africa

April 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

BANGUI, April 12 (Reuters) – More than 20 people were killed on Sunday when farmers and traders fought over cattle at a livestock market near the capital of Central African Republic, a hospital official said.

The dispute centred on the ownership of cattle stolen by highway robbers over a week ago but later recovered from the bandits and brought to the market just outside Bangui.

“Twenty-two corpses have been brought to the morgue. This is only a provisional tally as the injured are still arriving,” said Joel Nganafei, an official at Bangui’s community hospital.

Central African Republic is one of the poorest countries in the world despite its vast natural resources. It has endured years of civil conflicts and banditry is rife.

Fernand Koumanda, head of a cattle breeders’ association, said the fighting started when some traders at the market claimed that they owned 56 of the 174 beasts initially stolen, enraging some cattle farmers.

“I’ve just come from the hospital. The bodies and injured I’ve seen are horrific. Cracked heads, slit throats, bodies with arrows in them, others riddled with bullets, hacked by machetes. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life,” said Bernadette Sayo, minister for social affairs.

Health Minister Andre Nalke Dorogo appealed on national radio for doctors and health workers to go to the hospital as quickly as possible to try and save lives. (Reporting by Paul-Marin Ngoupana; Editing by David Clarke)

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Leh women become self-reliant

April 11, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Leh (Jammu and Kashmir), Apr 11 (ANI): Many self-help groups in Choshut village of Leh are working on various social issues to help women become self-sufficient.

Shashi Self-Help Group, one of the oldest self-help groups in the region, had started with only six members and now at present, there are more than 15 women members working in the group.

Shashi self-help group is actively promoting local handicrafts. The group is also conducting workshops and giving training to women of different villages. The group is also promoting local handicrafts at the district level and at the state level.

“We are working for the last five years in this village and we have seen a lot of improvement in the lifestyle of the villagers. Nowadays, we are educating villagers about the health and hygiene. Our self-help group is working with various government agencies to improve our village standards as compared to other villages in the region,” said Amina Khatoon, president of Shashi Self -Help Group.

The group also help women to make decorative home items. These handicraft goods are sold in the Leh market and income earned is later used for the benefit of the society.

The group is finding it difficult to get raw materials for handicrafts, as it is not available in the Ladakh region.

“I learned to make handicraft goods from my friend from south India. I was there for a year and later I joined self-help group in my village. Later, I became an instructor of the group. At present more then 15 women of the group were trained to make handicrafts, from where they can earn some income. Here in Ladakh, we can’t get raw materials for making handicraft goods. We are looking for the alternative source from where we can get raw material here in Leh,” said Zara Bano, Instructor of a self-help group.

The self-help groups are also working on several social issues such as keeping the entire village and schools clean. The groups are also helping government health workers during their visits to the village, such as during pulse polio drive and educating villagers to improve their living standards. (ANI)

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