Health Community

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released new guidelines recommending simplified indicators to measure the reach of HIV services, and the impact achieved at both the national and global levels.

The new Consolidated strategic information guidelines for HIV in the health sector are being launched at the 3rd HIV surveillance consultation starting today in Bangkok, Thailand. The guidelines were developed in partnership with the Global Fund, UNAIDS, UNICEF and the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

It is heartening to note that the cost of cancer-fighting drugs is dropping. 

Reuters reports that Worldwide spending on cancer medicines reached $100 billion in 2014, an increase of 10.3 percent from 2013 and up from $75 billion five years earlier, according to IMS Health's Global Oncology Trend Report released on Tuesday, May 5.

The $100 billion, which represents 10.8 percent of all drug spending globally and includes supportive care drugs to address things like nausea and anemia, was driven by expensive newer treatments in developed markets, IMS found.

I saw this somewhere and also seen this issue being dealt with. in TV Series like Bostson Legal, that a lot of Big Pharma cos. in the US charge a lot more for life-saving drugs than in India ! It would therefore be to the detriment of such cos. if precious drugs were available in India at easily affordable costs and the case for preventing FDI in Pharmaceutials becomes stronger, I am inclined to think.

This is truly wonderful work done by this Fund .. and commendable !!

http://www.indiancancersociety.org/what-do-we-do/cancer-cure-fund.aspx

Vitamin B12 plays a crucial role in the functioning of the brain and the central nervous system, yet it is needed in smaller amounts than other vitamins.

It is available in meat sources but not in many plant-based vegetable sources of food.

The only reliable non-meat sources of B12 are foods fortified with B12 that include plant milks, some soya products and some breakfast cereals and B12 supplements.

Prednisolone is the standard prescribed drug to reduce inflammatory pain in the body. It is used in the treatment of conditions like arthritis and vasculitis. It is very effective and acts rapidly to counter inflammation. However, the drug comes with its share of side effects with prolonged usage.
A few of the notable ones are mentioned below:
1. Weight gain
2. Increased appetite
3. Moon face (fat accumulation in the face)
4. Fat accumulation in the upper back
5. Bone density loss
6. Muscle fatigue
A few of the rare side effects are:

Papaya leaf juice has excellent property of increasing the platelet count of a patient suffering from DENGUE. Some of my students and friends have found it beneficial   drinking crushed papaya leaf juice. It helped them to  recover quickly from dengue fever. The juice is bitter to taste, so it can be consumed after mixing thoroughly with honey.

There are many other health benefits of papaya leaves. Please refer to the links below.

A lot of us tend to worry about "putting on weight" and yet do not pay too much attention to what we eat and when !

I stay in a hostel & I realised that none of us have frequent colds like the day scholars.. Doing my little research I figured that every morning we were given tea with a tiny bit of ginger that actually made us all healthy & fit!

There are many health benefits from regular intake of garlic with our meals. It has been proven to help lower Blood Pressure, reduce Cholesterol, increase immunity to viral & bacterial infections especially in our respiratory & digestive systems.

One can have a few pods (2-3) of garlic everyday after Lunch or Dinner preferably or if one finds the taste too strong / smelly then it can be taken in a gel capsule form like Ranbaxy's Garlic pearls.