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Goa registered a record voter turnout of 83 percent in Saturday’s assembly polls. The coastal state had recorded 81.8 percent polling in last assembly elections. At a media briefing in New Delhi, Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha said that no case of paid news was reported from the state. He said the polling passed off peacefully.

In the Northern plains, Punjab recorded 70 percent polling till 5 PM. The voter turnout in last assembly polls in 2012 was a little over 78 percent. Deputy Election Commissioner Sandeep Saxena said that 59 cases of paid news were reported. Voting in Punjab was by and large peaceful. 

The two states went to polls in a single phase on Saturday. The final figures may go up as reports are yet to come from some polling booths. There were also some reports of EVMs developing technical snags which were replaced.

In Saturday’s assembly elections, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is making its debut in Goa as well as Punjab. Assembly elections will run through March in the most crucial State of Uttar Pradesh, hilly Northern State of Uttarakhand and the North-Eastern State of Manipur. Taken together, the five State assembly polls are also seen as a referendum on the Modi government’s demonetisation decision as well as its test in the electoral arena before the country goes to general polls in 2019. While BJP rules in Goa and is in power along with Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab, its traditional rival Congress and the newbie AAP are making strong efforts to grab power in Punjab where 117 assembly seats went to polls. Deputy Election Commissioner Sandeep Saxena said that Rs 58 crore cash, 12.43 lakh litre liquor worth Rs 13.34 crore, 2,598 kg of drugs and narcotics were seized in Punjab. 

In Goa, which has 40 assembly seats, the BJP hopes to retain power though it has broken its alliance from Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP).”

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Latest cancer data released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests that 8.8 million people die from cancer, mostly in low and middle-income countries. One thing common in these deaths is that they are diagnosed too late when their chances of survival are slim. Even in countries with optimal health systems and services, many cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, when they are harder to treat successfully.

This year on World Cancer Day – observed every year on February 4, the WHO released new guidelines which aim to improve the chances of survival for people   living with cancer by ensuring that health services can focus on diagnosing and treating the disease earlier.
 Ã¢Â€ÂœDiagnosing cancer in late stages, and the inability to provide treatment, condemns many people to unnecessary suffering and early death,” says Dr Etienne Krug, Director of WHO’s Department for the Management of Noncommunicable Diseases, Disability, Violence and Injury Prevention.
“By taking the steps to implement WHO’s new guidance, healthcare planners can improve early diagnosis of cancer and ensure prompt treatment, especially for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers. This will result in more people surviving cancer. It will also be less expensive to treat and cure cancer patients.”
All countries can take steps to improve early diagnosis of cancer, according to WHO’s new Guide to cancer early diagnosis. The three early steps to early diagnosis are improving awareness of different cancer symptoms and encouraging people to seek care when these arise; invest in strengthening and equipping health services and training health workers so that they can conduct accurate and timely diagnosis; and ensuring people living with cancer can access safe and effective treatment, including pain relief, without incurring prohibitive personal or financial hardships.
Challenges are clearly greater in low and middle-income countries, which have lower abilities to provide access to effective diagnostic services, including imaging, laboratory tests and pathology – all key to helping detect cancers and plan treatment. Countries also currently have different capacities to refer cancer patients to the appropriate level of care.  
Detecting cancer early also greatly reduces cancer’s financial impact: not only is the cost of treatment much less in cancer’s early stages, but people can also continue to work and support their families if they can access effective treatment in time. In 2010, the total annual economic cost of cancer through healthcare expenditure and loss of productivity was estimated at US$ 1.16 trillion.
Strategies to improve early diagnosis can be readily built into health systems at a low cost. In turn, effective early diagnosis can help detect cancer in patients at an earlier stage, enabling treatment that is generally more effective, less complex and less expensive. For example, studies in high-income countries have shown that treatment for cancer patients who have been diagnosed early are two to four times less expensive compared to treating people diagnosed with cancer at more advanced stages.  
 
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Countries have agreed to a target of reducing premature deaths from cancers and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) by one-third by 2030. They also agreed to achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all. At the same time, efforts to meet other SDG targets, such as improving environmental health and reducing social inequalities can also help reduce the cancer burden.
 
Cancer is now responsible for almost one in six deaths globally. More than 14 million people develop cancer every year, and this figure is projected to rise to over 21 million by 2030. Progress on strengthening early cancer diagnosis and providing basic treatment for all can help countries meet national targets tied to the SDGs.
 
Most people diagnosed with cancer live in low- and middle-income countries, where two thirds of cancer deaths occur. Less than 30% of low-income countries have generally accessible diagnosis and treatment services, and referral systems for suspected cancer are often unavailable resulting in delayed and fragmented care. The situation for pathology services was even more challenging: in 2015, approximately 35% of low-income countries reported that pathology services were generally available in the public sector, compared to more than 95% of high-income countries.
Comprehensive cancer control consists of prevention, early diagnosis and screening, treatment, palliative care, and survivorship care. All should be part of strong national cancer control plans. WHO has produced comprehensive cancer control guidance to help governments develop and implement such plans to protect people from the onset of cancer and to treat those needing care.
Cancers, along with diabetes, cardiovascular and chronic lung diseases, are also known as NCDs, which were responsible for 40 million (70%) of the world’s 56 million deaths in 2015. More than 40% of the people who died from a NCD were under 70 years of age.

Tobacco control is the cost-effective and evidence-based cancer prevention strategy. Over 20% cancer deaths are caused by tobacco use. Tobacco not only dangerously elevates lung cancer but also impacts 14 kinds of cancers and passive smoking kills 600,000 people annually. Tobacco is a leading common risk factor for major non-communicable diseases that will kill 38 million people annually with most deaths in low and middle income countries, says Anne Jones, senior tobacco control expert with the International Union Against TB and Lung Disease (The Union).

Figures compiled by Central Bureau of Health Intelligence suggest India had 11.48 lakh cases of cancer in 2016. This figure has shown a steady increase since 2012 when it was 10.57 lakh.

According to Dr. Navneet Singh, secretary of Indian Society for the Study of Lung Cancer, and Associate Professor at the Department of Pulmonary Medicine, PGIMER nearly 85% of lung cancer patients present themselves in Stage 3B and $ of the disease at the time of diagnosis. Cure at that point of time is not possible. He says lung cancer in developing countries is either declining or has plateaued but in India it is increasing with indoor pollution, and passive smoking being major reasons, particularly among women.”

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Inspired by US President Donald Trump’s decision to bar immigration from Muslim countries harbouring terrorists, Hindu youths have formed ‘Trump Sena’ to stop migration of Hindus from western Uttar Pradesh. ‘Trump Sena’ has also decided to support BJP in the state. To begin with, it started with a show of strength at BJP President Amit Shah’ rally on Friday today at Pilkhuwa, a town which falls under Dhaulana assembly seat in Hapur district from where BJP has fielded its four-time MP, Dr. Ramesh Chand Tomar. Hapur is barely 40 kms from the national Capital of Delhi. 

Incidentally, in his speech Amit Shah called as a strong President who has decided to fight directly all those supporting and harbouring terrorists mentioned. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also a strong leader and he will take all steps to safeguard Hindus. He said this while raising the issue of migration of Hindus from western Uttar Pradesh.

Dhaulana seat has been in the news after BJP MP and firebrand Hindutva leader Yogi Adityanath said in his rally in the constituency a few days back that Hindus are being forced to migrate from western Uttar Pradesh which is likely to convert west UP into second Kashmir. Same day Election Commission ordered FIR against Dr. Ramesh Chand Tomar for allegedly inciting communal tensions after he said that “he will not let Dhaulana assembly seat turn into Maulana assembly seat”.

According to ‘Trump Sena’ volunteers: “Trump Sena has been formed to end atrocities being committed on Hindus in western UP. Hindus are being forced to leave their properties behind and migrate. We are inspired by what US President Donald Trump is doing. We also support Yogi Adityanath for giving a call to end migration of Hindus from western UP. We understand Dr. Ramesh Chand Tomar’s concerns how demography of assembly segments in western UP is being systematically changed to suppress Hindu community. Therefore Trump Sena has been formed to stop all this.”

“Trump Sena volunteers will pan out in entire state starting from western UP and assure Hindus that we are with them. Anyone getting threats from anyone to migrate can contact us. We will stand behind them and given them full protection. A lot of youths are joining us every day and soon we will become a formidable force and not let atrocities committed on Hindus. We will mobilize youths and also start campaign against ‘love jihad’,” volunteers said.

Trump Sena volunteers, in their justification, also said when Maulanas can issue fatwas to support Muslim candidates, we also can ask people to support BJP and Hindu candidates. When Hindus are being threatened, we have all the right to stand for them. Only BJP can come out in support of Hindus and therefore we are supporting its candidates. We will travel to all parts of Uttar Pradesh and seek votes for BJP, volunteers added.”

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India has revised its target for eliminating Kala-azar from 2015 to 2017. Elimination would mean bringing down the number of cases so that it no longer poses a threat to public health and keeping it low. The target is to eliminate Kala azar from all the blocks by the end of this year. India accounts for about 50% of the global Kala-azar burden with 4,632 cases reported till August last year. Bihar is home to over 77% of the national burden of Kala-azar, reporting 3,563 cases until August 2016. Bihar and Jharkhand together account for over 90% of Kala-azar cases in the country.

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) or Kala-azar (KA) as it is called in South Asia, is a relatively rare communicable disease, usually affecting the poorest, that is characterized by prolonged fever and debility, and that usually kills unless treated.

Other than the Indian subcontinent, it is also found in Brazil in South America, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan in Africa in sizeable numbers.  It is considered one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), in the sense that for a long time, there was little attention paid to the disease, and it remained poorly understood and addressed. Ever since a global effort began to eliminate it since 2005, it is receiving more attention.

Kalaazar is caused by a tiny, one-celled parasite called Leishmaniadonovani- examples of similar parasites are malarial parasite and ameba. The parasite multiplies in the spleen, liver and bones of the affected person to large numbers and causes a steady deterioration in the health of the person. The parasite enters the body when a sand fly containing the parasite comes looking for a blood meal and bites a person.

The sand fly picks up the parasite from a person suffering from Kala azar, the parasite grows and multiplies inside the sand fly for more than a week, and then the parasites get accidentally injected into the blood of the next person who gets bitten. If left untreated, it usually kills the infected person. Even before killing, the disease causes    severe debility, loss of ability to work and malnutrition. It spreads slowly but silently from person to person, and even after years of efforts to control it, thousands of cases still occur every year in India. Since it is rare, people take a long time to realize that they may have Kala azar, and in the meanwhile they themselves suffer, and continue to spread the disease

The disease is regularly found in the Indian subcontinent in 54 districts in India, 11 districts (Zila) in Bangladesh and 16 districts in Nepal. In India 33 districts in Bihar, 4 districts in Jharkhand, 11districts in West Bengal, and 6 districts in Uttar Pradesh are consistently affected. Additionally, Bhutan has sporadic cases, and occasional cases turn up in different states of India, usually in people traveling out of the affected areas.

Kala azar symptoms include fever that does not respond to usual treatment for malaria, typhoid, viral infections for two weeks or more, enlargement of the abdomen due to the spleen and liver becoming large. It is associated with tiredness, loss of appetite and loss of weight; and darkening of the skin. The disease is seen more among people living in villages in kutcha homes, sleeping on the floor and living close to cattle. These often belong to the economically weaker and vulnerable sections of society.

The sandfly is often found in places that have heavy annual rainfall, a mean humidity of above70%, a temperature range of 15-38°C, abundant vegetation, high subsoil water and alluvial soil. It is found in dark, damp places. Treatment of Kala azar is free of cost in government facilities and Accredited Social Health Activists are given an incentive for identifying a patient, bringing him/her to the health facility and ensuring that the patient completes the course. This is important since there have been reports of patients developing resistance to Kala azar medicines which is becoming a serious. 

In addition to free treatment in Bihar, patients are given a compensation of Rs.6,600 to make up for the loss of wages they may have suffered because of their illness and associated expenses. This is provided from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

The Government of India provides Rs 500 to every patient of Kala azar and Rs 2000 to every patient of Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL). This is a complication of the disease which primarily affects the skin that develops lesions—mostly small, pale lesions that do not itch or lose sensation. This results in cosmetic disfigurement. Though curable, it takes several years.

Certain kinds of skin lesions of PKDL contain a large number of parasites, and thus these cases are likely to be source of spread of the disease.

Researchers Piero L. Olliaro, Tushar A.K.M. Shamsuzzaman, Baburam Marasini, A.C.Dhariwal and others in a latest scientific paper “Investments in Research and Surveillance Are Needed to Go Beyond Elimination and Stop Transmission of Leishmania in the Indian Subcontinent,’’  have said that to maintain this target and stop transmission, it is necessary to re-evaluate whether the appropriate interventions are in place for surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, and vector control. In particular, it is important to decide whether current approaches should be reconsidered and whether new or modified interventions are required.

“”The current strategy in the Indian subcontinent is built around the early detection of symptomatic cases so that morbidity and mortality can be reduced and the source of infection is removed from the community,”” the paper points out.

Regardless of what treatments are available now and in the future, the paper says, perhaps the most important consideration is to ensure that treatments and diagnostic tests are available at all of the Primary Health Centres in endemic communities. This will require a greater number of PHCs with sufficient expertise to deliver the first-line treatment. Access to treatment locally, combined with increased knowledge in the community, will reduce the time from symptoms to treatment and, consequently, reduce the rate of transmission. This can be achieved immediately with the necessary commitment.

Finally, a vaccine to stop transmission would represent the best intervention. People who are cured of visceral leishmaniasis following treatment are immune against re-infection for life, which implies that a vaccine for leishmaniasis is possible. Due to the relatively low numbers of cases and high population, it would be necessary in the first instance to combine a vaccination programme with the elimination programme to deploy the vaccine in highly endemic areas and areas with new outbreaks during the maintenance phase. Any vaccine would need to be effective on both immunologically naive people and asymptomatic infected people if it is to be deployed in highly endemic areas, the paper says.”

“Former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa’s confident and `soul sister’, V K Sasikala was unanimously elected by the AIADMK MLAs as the legislature party leader, clearing her way to take over as new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. After Janaki Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, Sasikala would be third woman Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu which has been ruled for the past several years alternatively by AIADMK and DMK.Sasikala’s name to head the AIADMK legislature party was proposed by the Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam. She is likely to take over on February 9. Mr. Panneerselvam could become the number two as deputy chief minister in the Sasikala cabinet, reports emanating from Chennai said. The AIADMK legislature party’s official communication has to be handed over to Raj Bhavan as well as the resignation letter of Panneerselvam who earlier also remained a stop-gap chief minister when Jayalalithaa had been lodged in a prison in a corruption case. Sasikala took over the party as the General Secretary on December 29 last following her unanimous selection in the party general body meeting. Many AIADMK leaders had been urging Sasikala to become chief minister as well. Sasikala had been constant companion of former chief minister Jayalalithaa since mid-80s barring a brief period when she had fallen out.  It was Sasikala who remained with Jayalalithaa when she was hospitalised last year and till she died on December 5 last year. She performed her last rites as well. The main opposition leader in the state Assembly and arch rival DMK working president MK Stalin said the elevation of Sasikala will not gel with the people as she does not represent the popular choice. Sasikala, 61, is not an elected member of the assembly and had never held any post in the party. She is fondly called Chinamma (mother’s younger sister) by AIADMK supporters.”

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has congratulated India for launching one of the world’s largest vaccination campaign against measles, a major childhood killer disease, and congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), responsible for irreversible birth defects. The campaign launched today to vaccinate more than 35 million children in the age group of nine months to 15 years with MR (measles and rubella) vaccine, once again demonstrates India’s commitment to improve health and well-being of its people by protecting children against vaccine preventable diseases, a statement issued here said. The first phase of the campaign is significant as it is expected to accelerate the country’s efforts to eliminate measles which affects an estimated 2.5 million children every year, killing nearly 49 000 of them. The campaign also marks the introduction of rubella vaccine in India’s childhood immunization programme to address CRS which causes birth defects such as irreversible deafness and blindness in nearly 40 000 children every year. India has made important efforts and gains against measles in recent years. Measles deaths have declined by 51% from an estimated 100 000 in the year 2000 to 49 000 in 2015.

This has been possible by significantly increasing the reach of the first dose of measles vaccine, given at the age of nine months under routine immunization programme, from 56% in 2000 to 87% in 2015. In 2010 India introduced the second dose of measles-containing vaccine in routine immunization programme to close the immunity gap and accelerate measles elimination. Nearly 118 million children aged nine months to 10 years were vaccinated during mass measles vaccination campaigns between 2010 and 2013 in select states of India. Simultaneously, India continues to further strengthen surveillance for measles and rubella, an important learning from India’s polio eradication programme that helped to identify infected and vulnerable areas and populations and enabled the programme adopt appropriate strategies to eradicate the disease.

India has already beaten smallpox, polio, maternal and neonatal tetanus and, very recently, yaws. Further gains in the battle against measles will help achieve a number of other public health priorities, the statement added.The campaign was formally launched at a function in Bengaluru and will extend to Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Goa and Lakshadweep covering 35 million children. Following the campaign, MRV will be introduced in routine immunization, replacing the currently given two doses of measles vaccines, at 9-12 months and 16-24 months.The MR campaign targets 410 million children across the country, the largest ever in any country , covering all children aged between 9 months and less than 15 years of age with a single shot of MR vaccination irrespective of their previous measles/rubella status.The vaccine will be provided free of cost across the States from session at schools as well as health facilities and outreach session sites. Measles vaccine is currently provided under Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). However, rubella vaccine will be a new addition. Measles is a deadly disease and one of the important causes of death in children.

It is highly contagious and spreads through coughing and sneezing of an infected person. Measles can make a child vulnerable of life threatening complications such as pneumonia, diarrhea and brain infection. Globally in 2015, measleas killed 1.34 lakh children mostly under-five years, killing 49,000. Rubella is generally a mild infection, but has serious consequences if infection occurs in pregnant women, causing congential rubella syndrome (CRS) which is a cause of public health concern. The CRS is characterized by congential anomalies in the foetus and newborns affecting the eyes, ears, brain and heart defects, causing a huge socio-economic burden on the families in particular and society in general.”

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Congress MP from Goa in the Rajya Sabha Shantaram Naik on Tuesday questioned the statement of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar who had attacked India’s time tested policy of No First Use policy as in the matter of nuclear power. Mr.  Naik said, making his zero hour submissions, that Defence Minister said recently at the book launch of (Retd.) Brig Gurmeet Kanwal’s ‘The New Arthashastra: A security strategy for India’, that “”I wonder why we say that we don’t use nuclear weapons first.””  He went on to say that “”it doesn’t mean that India has to use nukes, but why rule out.””

In a press statement, Mr. Naik said that this is his thinking what Parrikar says but according to him there is no change in any government policy. Mr Naik said, “”If written down strategy exists or you take a stand on a nuclear aspect, I think you are actually giving away your strength in nuclear power.”” Defence Minister recently articulated his “personal” view which is contrary to India’s No First Use (NFU). This doctrine has come in for adverse comments from many strategists, Mr Naik said.

If defence ministry is for making aggressive postures then how was that the Government failed to ensure reciprocal visit by India when it permitted Pakistani delegation to visit Pathankot into sensitive areas, Mr Naik said. The strike that India made against the then Bangladesh under the occupation of Pakistan rendering the country into two pieces during Prime Minister Indira  Gandhi’s time, finds no mention by Defence Minister.

The Defence Minister of the country gives credit to RSS ideology for surgical strikes rather than giving credit to bravery of our soldiers, Mr Naik said. If India proposes to alter the policy on the use of nuclear strike, he has to put his proposal before Union Cabinet instead of making sou motto statement, which he is not entitled to make, Mr Naik said.”

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The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has equated six PG Diploma Programmes of the Pune-based Films and Television Institute of India with Master’s Degree. The Masters equivalence launches FTII into a new academic orbit and introduces a new dimension for students who can now leverage this attribute for higher studies, in India and abroad, an official statement said here.

These programmes are of 2 and 3 years duration and are in cinematography, editing, direction & screenplay writing, sound recording & sound design, art direction & production and acting. The FTII had been making efforts since 2011 for securing the Master’s Degree for its programs. Recently a four member Committee from Association of Indian Universities visited FTII and were briefed by the Heads of Department and Faculty members who gave detailed presentations before the AIU Committee. The committee also visited the academic locations as well as technical facilities and also met Student Representatives in the campus. Gajendra Chauhan, Chairman FTII, Pawan Manvi and Rajan Welukar, members of FTII Academic Council briefed the Committee on the strong credentials of FTII. Renowned FTII alumni Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Satish Shah, Tom Alter, Amitabh Shukla, Mahesh Aney, Bishwadeep Chatterjee and Siddharth Tatooskar were also present during the presentations.”

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Insisting that peace in Afghanistan is crucial for regional stability, Dr. Shaida Mohammad Abdali, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has spoken about Afghanistan’s changing strategic landscape, with regional powers forging new links and trying to outdo each other in what’s being seen as a new ‘Great Game’.

Dr Abdali was delivering a talk on ‘Afghanistan at the Crossroads: Implications for Regional Security’ at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) on Monday.  Terming Afghanistan as a lynchpin to regional stability owing to its geographic location, Dr Abdali said that Afghanistan should be mainstreamed into regional economic cooperation to bring about peace and security in Afghanistan and consequently in the subcontinent. The shifting regional alliances should avoid competition and promote a more inclusive approach towards stabilising Afghanistan and its neighbourhood, added Dr Abdali.

The global shift to multi-polarity and multilateralism can be an opportunity for Afghanistan as relationships with some regional powers that did not work earlier can now be aligned in a manner that can prove to be a win-win situation for all, added the ambassador.

Welcoming US President Donald Trump’s recent statement on his country’s resolve to eradicate radical forces, Dr Abdali said that this is the only way to combat terrorism. He hoped that the US government adopts this policy while engaging with the countries in the region.

Insisting that Afghanistan has long been suffering in the hands of global and regional players, Dr Abdali, called for the need for regional powers to interact with each other in a manner that would bring a positive change in the region.”

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Union Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on Wednesday spelt out steps for making Indian Railways a profit earning entity. Such steps include measures for enhancing earnings on the one hand and controlling avoidable revenue expenditure on the other.

Revenue enhancing measures, inter alia, include targeting progressively higher traffic throughput, effective marketing strategies to capture more and more traffic, creation of additional capacity and optimum utilization of the existing rail infrastructure, enhancement in productivity and efficiency, improvement of passenger interface, periodic rationalization of fare and freight rates and focus on increasing the share of non-fare revenue sources in Railways’ earnings.

Expenditure control measures include strict economy and austerity measures, improved man-power planning, better asset utilization, inventory management and optimizing fuel consumption.”