This comprehensive report has been prepared with the objective to map the available evidences on impact on climate change on HIV responses and identify key research priorities through an evidence gap -
TAMLUK : The litany of woes related to HIV/AIDS continues unabated in the rural fringes of West Bengal. Though, the state health department often claims that its AIDS awareness mascot, Buladi has been a success, but her campaign seems to have fallen flat even in the urban areas of Midnapore East district with the victims of the deadly disease being socially ostracised. This was proven recently, when a 27-year old woman and her family were ostracised by their neighbours at their village near Kolaghat after she tested HIV positive.
Diagnosing multi drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) will now take just two days' time. In a major announcement on Monday, the World Health Organisation decided to make widely available a path-breaking rapid molecular diagnostic tool that will generate TB test results in two days flat. Currently, standard tests take up to three months. This is why only 2% of MDR-TB cases worldwide are being diagnosed and treated appropriately.
On May 22 a Delhi High Court hearing brought to the fore the rift between two Union ministries. The object of discord was a law dating back to days of high Victorian puritanism: section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. It criminalizes sexual acts
1860 The Indian Penal Code formulated. Section 377, an important part 1994 Condoms not allowed in Tihar Jail 2001 Offices of the NGOs working with homosexuals raided 2001 Naz Foundation files a case in the Delhi High court 2002 JACK files a counter affidavit 2004 Ministry of home affairs says section 377
In 1994, a medical team suggested that condoms be made available in Tihar Jail after finding high rates of homosexuality there. Kiran Bedi, the then Inspector General of prisons, refused because that would tantamount to admitting an illegal activity, homosexuality, on jail premises. A human rights group, AIDS Bhedbav Virodh Andolan filed PIL in the Delhi High Court challenging the constitutional
Ranbaxy Laboratories has received tentative approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to manufacture and market the generic version of Roche's Valcyte (valganciclovir hydrochloride Tablets, 450 mg), a drug used for treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients afflicted with AIDS. Being the first company to apply for the marketing the medicine in the US, Ranbaxy is expected to get 180-days exclusive marketing opportunity after the patent protection on the drug expires. Roche's patent for Valcyte will end in 2015.
Kounteya Sinha | TNN India has finally woken up to the plight of AIDS orphans
A handful of Republican senators is blocking action on a bill that would greatly increase American funding to combat AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria around the world. If their delaying tactics succeed, the United States will lose considerable leverage in trying to persuade other advanced nations to contribute substantially more money to fight against global disease at the upcoming meeting of the Group of 8 industrial nations.
In a decision that will go a long way in soothing people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHAs), the Indian patent office today turned down the claim of a drug company to patent nevirapine. The drug is critical to HIV/AIDS treatment strategy, and is a crucial part of treatment for children affected by the virus. Patenting the drug would have meant limited access to HIV/AIDS treatment.
An Indian database has been created by profiling the population on the basis of changes in genes with disease linkages. THE first results from the project of the Indian Genome Variation Consortium (IGVC) have clearly demonstrated (Frontline, June 6) that even as the Indian population exhibits a genetic diversity unmatched anywhere in the world, there are within it pockets of homogeneous ethnic groups that have remained relatively genetically unadmixed. (The IGVC's multi-institutional project was set up to evolve a disease-linked genetic map of India.)
