Monday, May 14, 2012

Blood Bank on Wheels collected 6,371 units in the past one year

Mobile blood bank on a roll

Thiruvananthapuram, May 10, 2012

Blood Mobile has played a major role in popularising voluntary blood donation
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/article3403933.ece

Blood Mobile, a blood bank on wheels operated by the Kerala State AIDS Control Society (KSACS), has been contributing handsomely to blood collection and storage in the State, collecting about 6,371 blood units in the past one year.

The first blood donation campaign with the aid of Blood Mobile was conducted on the March 22, 2011. Since then it has been touring the State promoting voluntary blood donation, and has become popular with the young blood, who are the major donors and the backbone of voluntary blood donation programmes. Blood Mobile is scheduled for a tour in the city today in connection with a blood donation campaign at Technopark.

Easy access

In Kerala, on an average, about one per cent of the population annually requires blood transfusion. “Now, we depend on patients to bring in blood in cases of emergencies, which is quite inconvenient. We want to collect and store as many units of blood as possible so that hospitals can access blood easily,” says Nita Vijayan, joint director, Blood Safety, KSACS.

Blood Mobile runs in various districts, according to bookings, working with all major blood banks and function alongside blood donation campaigns. It aims at collecting 60 to 80 units of blood at each campaign. The air-conditioned bus has four booths for blood collection and four refrigerators for storing blood.

The blood collected is screened for five Transfusion Transmissible Infections (TTIs) such as HIV, HBv, HCv, VDRL and malaria. The TTI-free or safe blood is then stored in the blood bank and is issued as per requirement.

Blood Mobile accompanied the Red Ribbon Express, an exhibition on train aimed at creating awareness on AIDS, at the Thiruvananthapuram Central Station.

The Blood Mobile will conduct blood donation camp in connection with World Blood Donors' Day on June 4.

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Hepatitis B: Private Clinics, Labs under scanner

HBV: private clinics, labs under scanner

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article3397715.ece

PATHANAMTHITTA, May 8, 2012

The Health Department has launched an inspection and thorough screening of private clinics and clinical laboratories in the district in the wake of Hepatitis-B Virus (HBV) infection spreading in Pramadom panchayat and surrounding villages.

District Medical Officer Laila Divakar said a door-to-door survey to identify the number of HBV infection cases was fast progressing at Pramadom and surrounding areas from where a good number of cases had been reported during the past few weeks.

According to the Dr. Divakar and Deputy DMO in charge of communicable diseases L. Anithakumari, a total of 12 clinically confirmed HBV cases have been reported from the district, most of them from Pramadom, Thengumkavu, and Mallasserry areas this year.

As many as 50 unconfirmed cases of HBV infection too had been reported from the area. The actual number of cases was much higher, said a local health worker.

An expert team from Alappuzha had conducted inspection in the affected areas recently and the study report was expected soon, said the DMO and Dy.DMO.

There were also complaints regarding the sterilisation practices followed at certain private clinics, clinical laboratories, and barber shops in the affected areas. Two clinics in the affected areas had been closed by the inspection squad of the Health Department for lack of proper sterilisation facility, they said.

The department was also planning a mass immunisation programme for children below the age of 10 years in the affected areas, they said.

Immunisation of adults would also be carried out with financial support from the concerned local self-government institution. The Pramadom grama panchyat had sanctioned Rs.25,000 for the adult immunisation programme, they said.

Sanitation drive

The grama panchayats and municipalities would carry out a day-long pre-monsoon sanitation drive across the district on May 17 in an effort to prevent vector-borne as well as waterborne communicable diseases, Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash said.

Mr. Prakash was addressing a district-level meeting of officials and people's representatives to review the arrangements to check spread of communicable diseases during the ensuing monsoon period.

The Minister stressed the need to ensure effective participation of the people as well as students in the cleaning drive. Mr. Prakash directed the DMO to set up a special task force to check spreading of HBV infection in the district. He said free clinical investigation facility for HBV would be made available at the District Hospital.

District panchayat president Babu George said the panchayat had allotted Rs.28,500 to all grama panchayats through the sanitation mission.

Many panchayat authorities had stressed the need to ensure foolproof sterilisation methods at various private clinics and clinical laboratories in the wake of the alleged reuse of syringes without proper sterilisation.

Similarly, the health inspection team had also reportedly found that the hygiene at almost all barber shops in the affected areas was poor and alarming. Many of them were found to have been using the same blade for one or two days, without even properly cleaning the shaving instrument, alleged a panchayat president.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article3397715.ece

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Monday, May 7, 2012

Response to RTI Query by Human Rights Defence Forum

Note: Would be useful if the original response to the RTI query is available

· Thiruvananthapuram tops HIV/AIDS list in Kerala

http://www.thesundayindian.com/en/story/Thiruvananthapuram-tops-HIV/AIDS-list-in-Kerala/254/34263/

· 1,517 died of AIDS in State in 7 years

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article3382812.ece

· Thiruvananthapuram emerges as AIDS capital

http://www.rtiindia.org/forum/94942-rti-happenings-kerala-thiruvananthapuram-emerges-aids-capital.html

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Mission achieved, 'Red Ribbon' sets off (The Hindu 6 May 2012)

Mission achieved, ‘Red Ribbon' sets off

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/article3390272.ece

May 6, 2012 A Correspondent

The Hindu People waiting to watch an exhibition hosted by the Red Ribbon Express at Thiruvananthapuram Central on Saturday. Photo: C.Ratheesh Kumar

The eight-coach Red Ribbon Express, which seeks to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS, promote safe sex and reduce discrimination against those affected by HIV, reached Thiruvananthapuram Central on Saturday to wind up its tour to the State.

Though a hartal day, many visited the train that was parked on the platform at the Power House Road-end of the station.

Its coaches had exhibits on AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, reproductive and child health services, general health, and hygiene. Counselling was given in one coach while in another, training was imparted to members of Panchayati Raj Institutions, self help groups, health workers, youth organisations, teachers, and police personnel.

As many as 5,426 people visited the exhibition before the train left for Kanyakumari. During the Kerala leg, around 87000 people visited the train, 4,000 people were trained and 750 units of blood were collected.

The train was flagged off on January 12 last year from Delhi and during its year-long journey across 23 States would cover 162 halt stations and wind up its journey on January 12, 2013.

Thiruvananthapuram Central was the 53 halt of the train and the eighth in the State.

Printable version | http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/article3390272.ece

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Friday, April 27, 2012

Invitation to Join - Promoting Health & Dignity Together

ഒത്തൊരുമിച്ചു പ്രോത്സാഹിപ്പിക്കാം - ആരോഗ്യവും അഭിമാനവും

The 29th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial will take place on 20 May 2012 at several locations worldwide. It would be great to have your organization's/community's involvement in this global event - one of the world's oldest and largest grassroots mobilization campaigns for HIV awareness. Plan a commemoration, and complete the registration form at http://bit.ly/IACM-2012. Please also forward this message to other organizations who may be interested. For your convenience, some of the basic information about this program is given below as Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

With 33 million people living with HIV today, the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial serves as an important intervention for global solidarity, breaking down barriers of stigma and discrimination, and giving hope to new generations. More than just a memorial, it serves as a community mobilization campaign to raise social consciousness. It is coordinated internationally by the Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+).

Please extend your support and solidarity in "Promoting Health and Dignity Together".

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How can I register?

Registration is free of cost. Please visit http://bit.ly/IACM-2012 to submit the online form.

How can I organize?

You can plan and organize an event depending on the profile, reach, and resources of your organization. There is no set pattern for events, so you are free to be creative and come up with innovative ideas in accordance with the theme of the program - "Promoting Health and Dignity Together". Please download the coordinator's manual available at http://bit.ly/IACM-Manual for more information.

Why should I register?

You will become part of a global network and will be virtually joining hands in solidarity with thousands of people worldwide.
Your organization's name will be displayed on the website and thus bringing more visibility to your activities and potential collaborations.
You will receive important notifications from the official international coordinating agency GNP+.
You will have later opportunities for leadership within your locality or through the Candlelight program itself. For eg. National Coordinators are usually selected from previous community coordinators.

What if my organization cannot participate this year?

Even if your organization is not organizing an event this year, you can get involved and express solidarity in several ways:
Lookout for nearby organizations who are having an event this year in your area through the website, and join hands with them.
Spread the word. Pass on this email to potential organizations who may be interested.
Don't forget to "Like" our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/IACM.India and also to suggest it to your friends.

Is there any funding available from GNP+ for organising IACM?

Please refer the coordinators manual available at http://bit.ly/IACM-Manual for important tips on raising funds. However, there is no funding available from GNP+ directly to support community events.

Where Can I find more information?

Please visit www.candlelightmemorial.org or http://www.facebook.com/IACM.India

Or write to Coordinator.IACM.India@gmail.com

Orukkam 1st Press Release [1 Attachment]

[Attachment(s) from Malabar Cultural Forum included]

Dear All,

                   Greetings from MCF team,


Highlighted in the attachment is the 1st press release in DECCAN Chronicle about Orukkam-12, 12th annual get together of MCF on 30th may 2012. We heartily welcome you to our program.

Malabar Cultural Forum

49/1628, OPP BANK OF BARODA,

VANDIPETTA, NADAKKAVU

KOZHIKODE-11

PH:04352369683

Naz Foundation International invites Expression of Interest from Malayalam translators

Dear Forum Members,

Naz Foundation International's Regional Office is planning to hire the services of translators and reviewers to undertake translation and review of technical resources, manuals and BCC materials related to male-to-male sexuality, MSM and HIV, and sexual health.

Documents are to be translated/reviewed into Malayalam and other languages like Hindi, Urdu, Bangla, Singhalese, Marathi, Kannada, Telugu, Gujarati, Punjabi and Tamil. Original documents are in English.

Detailed TOR and format of application can be downloaded from the home page of NFI's website www.nfi.net

Interested translators are requested to submit their Expression of Interest to: ajai@nfi.net on or before 3^rd May 2012

The format for submitting the EoI is available in the TOR. Those applications not submitted in the specified format will be rejected.

With Best regards

S Ajai Kumar

____________________________

Knowledge and Media Manager

Naz Foundation International

Regional Office

9 Gulzar Colony, New Berry Lane

Lucknow 226001, India

Tel: +91 522 2205781/2

Fax: +91 522 2205783

Email: ajai@nfi.net

Help support work with marginalised MSM and TG: http://www.nfi.net/donations.htm

P Be environmentally friendly - print this email only if you need to!

The information contained in this document is confidential information intended for your use only. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you receive this information in error, please notify us by emailing the original to the sender. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of NFI unless otherwise specifically stated. If the content of this email is to become contractually binding, it must be made on paper and signed by a duly authorised representative of NFI.