AIDS-related deaths slashed by treatment: UN
A significant expansion in access to treatment helped slash the number of AIDS-related deaths in 2010, bringing the number of people living with HIV to a record 34 million, the United Nations said Monday.
"We are on the verge of a significant breakthrough in the AIDS response," said Michel Sidibe, executive director of UNAIDS. "New HIV infections continue to fall and more people than ever are starting treatment," he noted.
Speaking to journalists in Berlin for the presentation of the report, Sidibe hailed what he called a "game-changing year."
"For the first time we are able to demonstrate that if you put people early on treatment you can reduce the number of new infections," he said.
About half of those eligible for treatment are now receiving it, with the most dramatic improvement in access seen in sub-Saharan Africa, which recorded a 20-percent jump in people undergoing treatment between 2009 and 2010.
As a result of better access to healthcare, the number of AIDS-related deaths was also falling, said UNAIDS, the UN agency spearheading the international campaign against the disease.
In 2010, 1.8 million deaths were linked to AIDS, down from a peak of 2.2 million last seen in 2006.
"An estimated 700,000 AIDS-related deaths were estimated to have been averted in 2010 alone," added the UN agency.
Not only is treatment helping to prevent new AIDS-related deaths but it is also contributing to a drop in new HIV infections.
Patients undergoing care were less likely to infect others, as prevention programmes coupled with treatments were proving effective.
Modelling data suggests that "the number of new HIV infections is 30 to 50 percent lower now than it would have been in the absence of universal access to treatment for eligible people living with HIV."
In Namibia for instance, where treatment access reached an all-time high of 90 percent and condom use rose to 75 percent among men, the combined impact contributed to a 60 percent drop in new infections by 2010, noted UNAIDS.
"I want to say this report is clearly showing that even in those difficult period (three years of financial crisis) we are still having a result: we have more and more countries which are reducing the number of new infections," said Sidibe.
The UN agency added that the full preventive impact of treatment was likely to be seen in the next five years, as more countries reach high levels of treatment coverage.
"The massive increases in the numbers of people receiving treatment in South Africa between 2009 and 2010, for example, are likely to be reflected in substantially fewer new infections in the near future," it said.
UNAIDS assessed that even if the AIDS epidemic is not over, "the end may be in sight if countries invest smartly."
"In the next five years, smart investments can propel the AIDS response towards achieving the vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths," it said.
However, the turning point is coming at a time when industrialised nations' public budgets are being squeezed and translating to less international funding for the AIDS response.
Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres urged governments to keep up their funding.
"Never, in more than a decade of treating people living with HIV/AIDS, have we been at such a promising moment to really turn this epidemic around," said Tido von Schoen-Angerer, who heads MSF's access campaign.
"Governments in some of the hardest hit countries want to act on the science, seize this moment and reverse the AIDS epidemic. But this means nothing if there's no money to make it happen."
Source; www.ekantipur.com
विशेषज्ञ नहुँदा सुत्केरीको मृत्यु
प्रकाश अधिकारी,
दैलेख- प्रसूति विशेषज्ञ नहुँदा सुत्केरी ब्यथा लाग्नुअगावै अस्पताल पुर्याइएकी महिलाको मंगलबार मृत्यु भएको छ ।
वडाखोला १ ताराचौरकी २६ वषर्ीय निरुपा थापाको समयमै उपचार अभावले अस्पतालमै निधन भएको हो । उनलाई परिवारले सुत्केरी व्यथा नलाग्दै शनिबार अस्पताल भर्ना गरेका थिए । अस्पतालका अनुसार थापाको अत्यधिक रक्तस्रावले
मृत्यु भएको हो ।
सरकारले बाल तथा मातृ मृत्युदर घटाउन अस्पतालमा सुरक्षित सुत्केरी सेवा सञ्चालन गरे पनि असार सुरुबाटै डाक्टर छैनन् । एक वर्षे अस्थायी दरबन्दीका विशेषज्ञ राधर महतो फर्केपछि सुविधाविहीन भएको हो । अस्पतालका अन्य चिकित्सक पनि अध्ययन बिदामा छन् । जनस्वास्थ्य प्रमुख खगेन्द्रजंग शाहले अस्पतालमा कार्यरत प्रसूति विशेषज्ञको करार अवधि सकिएकाले रिक्त रहेको बताए । मन्त्रालयले डीएफआईडी सहयोगमा ०६५ देखि एक विशेषज्ञ नियुक्त गर्ने गरेको छ ।
'नयाँ आर्थिक वर्षको बजेट परिपत्र नआउन्जेल विज्ञापन गर्न सकिँदैन,' डा. शाहले भने, 'अपे्रसनमार्फत बच्चा जन्माउने सेवाबाहेक अन्यको सुरक्षित तवरले सुत्केरी गराइरहेका छौं ।' अस्थायी विज्ञापनमा पदपूर्ति गरिने भएकाले विशेषज्ञ पाउन मुस्किल हुने निमित्त प्रमुख शाहले बताए । 'एक वर्षको सम्झौता त्यही पनि पूरा अवधि बस्दैनन्', उनले भने ।
अस्पतालमा चिकित्सकको अभाव भइरहेका बेला यहाँ दरबन्दी रहेका चिकित्सकसहित नर्ससमेत अध्ययन बिदामा छन् । कार्यालयका अनुसार जिल्ला अस्पताल र प्राथमिक स्वास्थ्य केन्द्रका चिकित्सकहरू अध्ययन बिदामा छन् । स्वास्थ्य कार्यालय परिसरमा रहेको अस्पतालका प्रमुख डा. शाहले बिरामीको उपचार र प्रशासनिक प्रमुखको काम पनि आफैं गरिरहेका छन् । कामको चाप बढेपछि प्राथमिक स्वास्थ्य केन्द्र दुल्लुका डा. ओमकृष्ण पाठकले शाहलाई सघाएका छन् ।
कार्यालय प्रमुख मेडिकल सुपरिटेन्डेन्ट डा. सूर्यबहादुर गुरुङ अध्ययन बिदा स्वीकृत नगरी एक वर्षदेखि राजधानीमै छन् । प्राथमिक स्वास्थ्य केन्द्र लकान्द्रका डा. सोजन सापकोटा र नौमुलेका डा. विश्वराज शर्मा पनि दुई वर्षदेखि अध्ययनका लागि शिक्षण अस्पताल महाराजगन्जमा छन् ।
त्यस्तै दुल्लु र लकान्द्रमा स्टाफ नर्सको दरबन्दीसमेत रिक्त छ ।
शनिबार सुत्केरीको मृत्यु भए पनि शिशुको अवस्था भने सकुशल छ । पाठेघर च्यातिनुका साथै आवश्यक मात्रामा खुम्चिन नसक्दा अत्यधिक रक्तस्राव हुने गरेको डाक्टर शाहले जानकारी दिए । तर मृतकका आफन्तले स्वास्थ्यकर्मीको लापरबाहीले मृत्यु भएको आरोप लगाएका छन् । सुत्केरी हुँदा अत्यधिक रक्तस्रावका कारण गत शुक्रबार सात्तला गाविसमा एक सुत्केरीको मृत्यु भएको थियो । १८ वषर्ीय लक्ष्मी विकको रक्तस्राव नरोकिएपछि सात्तला स्वास्थ्य चौकीबाट सुर्खेततर्फ लैजाने क्रममा बाटोमै मृत्यु भएको थियो ।
दुर्घटनामा १६ जना घाईते
रत्ननगर (चितवन), जेष्ठ ९ -
रत्ननगर नगरपालिका ३ बेल्सीमा सोमबार विहान ट्रकले बसलाई ठक्कर दिंदा १६ जना यात्रु घाइते भएका छन् ।
घाइते मध्ये ४ जनाको अबस्था गम्भिर छ । बसमा यात्रा गर्ने अधिकांश भरतपुरतर्फ क्याम्पस जान लागेका बिद्यार्थी थिए । वीरगन्जबाट नारायणगढतर्फ जाँदै गरेको ना३ख ९३०६ नम्वरको ट्रकले ना३ख १९९६ नम्वरको बसलाई ठक्कर दिंदा बसका यात्रु घाइते भएका प्रहरीले जनाएको छ ।
दुर्घटनामा खैरहनी–७ की शरु रेग्मी, खैरहनी–४ की सरस्वती अर्याल, खैरहनी–९ का दिबस चापागाई, जुना चौधरी, काठमाण्डौ कलंकीकी अमृता कार्की घाइते भएका हुन् ।
यसैगरी, चैनपुरकी मनिसा दराई, अस्मीता दाहाल, सुदर्शन दराई र रुपा खरेल, भण्डाराका गिता राय, संगम थपलिया र अम्बिकादेवी खरेल, पिप्लेका नानीमाया गुरुङ, कुमरोजका अनोज अर्याल लगायत घाइते भएको प्रहरीले जनाएको छ । घाइतेहरुको चितवनका बिभिन्न अस्पतालमा उपचार भैरहेको छ । ट्रक र बसका चालकलाई प्रहरीले नियन्त्रणमा लिएको छ ।
(Source: Ekantipur)
Hubby has heart to give kidney
LAXMI MAHARJAN
KATHMANDU: Bishwo KC (42) gave his heart to Nirmala KC (38) about two decades ago when he tied the knot with her, and on Sunday he did not hesitate to donate his kidney and gave Nirmala a new lease of life.
This was first instance that a husband has donated his kidney to wife in the history of two and a half years of kidney transplant at Bir Hospital.
Bishwo today not only saved his wife’s life but also proved himself a trendsetter by donating kidney to wife, a rarity in the patriarchal setting of the society.
Bishwo, the breadwinner of the family, had decided in a heartbeat to donate his kidney when he came to know that his wife was suffering from renal failure. A father of three children, Bishwo, a forester in Rukum, underwent a surgery on Sunday to save Nirmala’s life. “For the last 18 years we have been sharing joy and sorrow. And when it came to saving my wife today, I didn’t even think for a moment and decided to donate my kidney,” said Bishwo.
Bishwo today not only saved his wife’s life but also proved himself a trendsetter by donating kidney to wife, a rarity in the patriarchal setting of the society.
Bishwo, the breadwinner of the family, had decided in a heartbeat to donate his kidney when he came to know that his wife was suffering from renal failure. A father of three children, Bishwo, a forester in Rukum, underwent a surgery on Sunday to save Nirmala’s life. “For the last 18 years we have been sharing joy and sorrow. And when it came to saving my wife today, I didn’t even think for a moment and decided to donate my kidney,” said Bishwo.
However, Bishwo expressed concern that the government should pay heed to the plight of those who are suffering from renal failure and provide them assistance in terms of finance or treatment facilities. Dr Pukar Chandra Shrestha, chief of kidney transplant unit at Bir Hospital, said KC couple has set a trend and it would help reduce gender disparity that is prevalent when it comes to donating kidney.
The hospital data shows out of 52 transplant cases, 47 are male recipients and 39 are female donors. Among total cases, 12 wives had donated kidney to their husbands.“Ours is a male-dominated society where men are the breadwinners,” said Dr Shrestha, adding, “In most of the cases, husbands are reluctant to donate an organ to their wives, whereas wives can go to any length to save husbands. However, people are becoming aware in recent times.”
Since the country restarted kidney transplantation service two-and-a-half years ago, Bir and Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital have successfully performed 132 transplant cases. At Bir Hospital, one needs to pay only Rs 3.5 lakhs for kidney transplant. The first renal transplant in the country was attempted in early 2004.
SOURCE: The Himalayen Times
परिवार नियोजनमा अनियमितता: महासभाको विश्व सञ्चालन परिषद्बाट प्रधान निष्कासित
काठमाडौ, जेष्ठ ३ -
नेपाल परिवार नियोजन संघका अध्यक्ष सुवास प्रधानलाई अन्त- र्राष्ट्रिय परिवार नियोजन महासंघ -आईपीपीएफ) ले 'विश्व सञ्चालन परिषद्' सदस्यबाट निष्कासन गरेको छ ।
आर्थिक अनियमितताको आरोपमा एक पछि अर्को कारबाही गर्दै आएको महासंघको गत साता लन्डनमा भएको महासभाले ३० सदस्यीय परिषद्बाट प्रधानलाई निष्कासन गर्ने निर्णय अनुमोदन गरेको हो । महासंघको दिल्लीस्थित क्षेत्रीय कार्यालयले 'प्रधान नेतृत्वको समितिले नेपालमा आर्थिक अनियमितता गरेको' भन्दै महासभामा कारबाहीको सिफारिस गरेको थियो ।
महासंघका अध्यक्ष डा. ज्याक्लिन सार्पले महासभाबाट उक्त सिफारिस सदर भएको जानकारीसहितको पत्र सोमबार क्षेत्रीय कार्यालयलाई पठाएका हुन् । सार्पको पत्रअनुसार प्रधान सार्क क्षेत्रीय कार्यकारी समितिको सदस्यसमेतबाट निष्कासित भएका छन् ।
यसअघि सार्कस्तरीय कार्यसमितिले उनलाई क्षेत्रीय कोषाध्यक्षसमेतबाट निष्कासन गरेको थियो । महासंघले बर्सेनि दिँदै आएको ३० करोड रुपैयाँभन्दा बढी अनुदान रोक्का गरेको छ । उसले 'प्रधानलाई हटाएर सरकारले छुट्टै स्वतन्त्र अन्तरिम समिति गठन नगरे संघको सदस्यतासमेत खारेज गरिदिने' चेतावनी दिइसकेको छ ।
Source: Ekantipur
वीपी प्रतिष्ठानमा ताला
धरान -कास)- वीपी कोइराला स्वास्थ्य विज्ञान प्रतिष्ठान, सरोकार समितिले चार सूत्रीय माग राख्दै उपकुलपतिको कक्षमा सोमबार बेलुकादेखि अनिश्चितकालीन तालाबन्दी गरेका छन् ।
समितिले माग सम्बोधन नभए चारै प्रमुखको कार्यकक्षमा तालाबन्दी गरी राजीनामा माग्न सकिने चेतावनी दिएको छ । समितिमा सुनसरीका दर्जन संघसंस्था आवद्ध छन् । समितिले वीपी कोइराला स्वास्थ्य विज्ञान प्रतिष्ठानमा कार्यरत चिकित्सक डा. सञ्जीव शर्माको अध्ययन बिदा प्रकरण चिकित्सा पेसामा देखिएको नकारात्मक अभ्यास मात्र भएको ठहर गर्दै तालाबन्दी गरेको सरोकार समितिले जनाएको छ । अस्वस्थ प्रतिष्ठानको सरसफाइमा आफ्नो ध्यानाकर्षण भएको जनाउँदै समितिले उपकुलपति पूर्णचन्द्र कर्माचार्यको कार्यकक्षमा तालाबन्दी गरेको हो ।
समितिले प्रतिष्ठानभित्र सरसफाइ मजदुर, सुरक्षा गार्ड र स्वास्थ्यकर्मीको आन्दोलन भइरहनाले उपचारमा बिरामीलाई असर पर्ने जनाउँदै त्यस्ता आन्दोलन तत्काल रोक्न पनि माग गरेको छ । यसै गरी प्रतिष्ठानमा हुने गुटबन्दी र आर्थिक अनियमितता अन्त्य हुनुपर्ने, सर्वसाधारणले सुलभ र सहज स्वास्थ्य उपचार पाउनुपर्ने समितिले माग गरेको छ ।
Source: Ekantipur
http://www.ekantipur.com/2011/11/22/health-and-living/aids-related-deaths-slashed-by-treatment-un/344222.html#.Tss0zR8o484.facebook
