3, December 2014

New HIV cases down by 57 percent, India now aims for zero infection

New Delhi: The number of new HIV infections in India has come down by 57 percent and related deaths by 25 percent in the last decade with the government now working to achieve the ambitious global goals of zero new infection and death by raising awareness and boosting preventive methods.

On World AIDS Day, Union Health Minister J P Nadda today sought people's involvement to make the mission success, saying governments or NGOs alone cannot deal with the challenge successfully.

Launching the helpline number - 1097, a digital resource centre and a supply chain management system for HIV patients, Nadda said, "It's the work of every individual to come out and fight it (HIV) out. There should be zero discrimination against people with HIV. This should be our commitment."

Stressing on the importance of "restraint" and "precaution", he said it was time for people to consider their lifestyle, noting that preventive health care has become important after an era when it was considered that antibiotics can "cure everything".

"We should be working on two fronts. We should be aware and put special emphasis on prevention and help those living with HIV and AIDS so that they face no discrimination," he said in his address.

Health Ministry, he said, had signed MoUs with 11 central ministries for better coordination in tackling AIDS and MoUs with five more ministries are in pipeline. "The work involves bringing on board 28 ministries," he said.

The first HIV positive person was reported in 1986 in India which currently has 2.1 million affected people, the third highest in the world even as the country's efforts in restricting its spread is considered a success by most.

Health Secretary Lov Verma said HIV-related deaths have come down by 30 percent since 2007.

Source: www.zeenews.india.com

03.12.2014

Leprosy is a leading cause of disability, says expert

New Delhi: People with Disabilities (PWDs) are equally talented and could play an important role in the economic development of any nation with the right kind of opportunities. This was one message which resonated in all short films and documentaries screened at the 12th edition of the ‘We Care Film Fest’ in New Delhi.

The festival which had an overwhelming presence of young people, highlighted through movies, the spectacular participation of the differently abled in various multi-national companies including international fast food chains.

Films are a powerful tool in changing the mindset and to sensitise people, and equipped with the sub-titles, films have become more accessible globally, said Neeradha Chandramohan, Director, National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities.

She also urged that the International Film Festival of India should screen movies on disability and called for instituting a separate award category for recognizing the best film in this category.

KVS Rao, Director, Department of Disability Affairs, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, said that films can play a major role in educating parents of special children. “Parents are generally clueless about handling such children with special needs,” he said.

Abha Khetarpal, President, Cross the Hurdles, Counselor for the student with disabilities, said that PWDs excluded at various levels in the society. “Inclusion has to be brought from the non-disabled section of society,” he said.

Source: www.zeenews.india.com

03.12.2014

In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends

Martin Luther King Jr.