Beware of Adulterated Sweets

Beware of Adulterated Sweets
Diwali is time for sweets, even the poorest of India’s poor make or purchase sweets. Little do these people realize that the sweets or the products they purchase to make sweets might be adulterated and poisonous. The past few days preceding Diwali Patna has witnessed raids by the Prevention of Food Adulteration and Health Department officials to seize and destroy adulterated sweets. Tons and tons of adulterated Milk, Khoya and Paneer, the main ingredients in making sweets have been seized and destroyed.

This is just a tip of the iceberg, the actual magnitude of the food adulteration racket in India is not known. True enough there are efforts by some government official with limited resources to stop food adulteration. What should have been an all out effort by the Government of India on an war footing to stop its citizens from being poisoned, has been left to a few.

There have been no statements to this effect from the Prime Minister or Chief Minister of State or any of his senior colleagues to this effect. It appears that food adulteration is not on their agenda, they have perhaps other important things on their mind. It appears that an Indian citizen getting poisoned has zero priority.

Some countries have enforced Capital punishment for food adulteration. One does not know what ultimately happens to those who are unlucky enough to be caught in India. Under The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 there is a punishment of six months and fine of Rs.1,000 for adulteration cases which do not result in death or grievous disability. The act simply does not take into consideration the long lasting effects of food poisoning, what happens if someone is infected with Cancer, and it is detected after say six months, and the cause is not known.
There are severe health side effects of adulterated sweets. If there is urea mixed milk, caustic soda, ararot, artificial sweetening chemicals, non approved colored sweets (like heavy metals incorporated malachite green etc), unhygienic sweet making conditions, it may lead to acute gastritis, serious diarrhea, dysentery, dehydration, hepatitis, kidney inflammation, allergic eruptions, asthmatic attack, irritability, insomnia etc etc….
We have to be extremely careful before consuming these kind of sweets this diwali.

Corruption In India

Once in a while, the government of the day will send out the CBI to raid a few people here and there, to show how they care about creating a corruption-free country. A few days later, the case is slowed down, and vanishes from the headlines.

This happens because the chain of corruption goes to the highest levels of our governments (centre and state). Of course, it can never be proven in a court of law. But we all know how it works. Ministers are at the apex of a system that includes bureaucrats, businessmen and others. Anyone wanting that little ‘extra special’ gets it by paying someone off. The percentages in the incentive system for distributing money are quite clear to all.

In all this, India suffers. We are poor not because we lack resources or wealth. We are poor because we are corrupt. And it is in the interest of those in power to keep us poor. For a politician, no amount of money is ever enough.

India needs a person who can clean up the system. And it has to start at the top. India needs someone like Lee Kuan Yew, the man who led Singapore’s development. Singapore became a first world country within a generation, and it is also consistently among the top three least corrupt countries in the world. Those two facts are causally related.

Eradicating corruption at the highest levels will create a major difference in India. Firstly, more money will be available for spending. All public funds allocated for support and development will actually go towards those ends instead of it being siphoned away. Secondly, the spending priorities will be determined more rationally instead of being based on which scheme gives the most opportunity the corruption or for buying the loyalty of vote banks. Taken together, removing corruption from the highest levels of governance is the biggest game-changer for India. Nothing else can match the multiplicative benefits the country receives from eradicating corruption.

On Doctor's Day (1st July) Special- Thankyou Doctor

Special Writeup for Doctor’s Day (1st July)
Thankyou Doctor……

First of July has been designated as Doctors’ Day in India. It happens to be the birthday of a very famous Physician of India, Dr B C Roy. Ironically, he passed away also on July 1, 1962 on his birthday. For Bihari’s it is a matter of pride that he was born on July 1, 1882 at Bankipore, Patna. He dedicated his life to the upliftment of Indian society, especially, the downtrodden. Not only did he excel as a physician, he was an educationist, social reformer, freedom fighter (joined Mahatma Gandhi in the Civil Disobedience movement), leader of Indian National Congress and later became chief minister of West Bengal
It is indeed important that both the doctors and patients be made more aware and conscious of the existence of this day and at the same time, of its relevance and significance in the larger context of healthcare in our country.
Whereas society owes a debt of gratitude to physicians for their contributions in enlarging the reservoir of scientific knowledge, care, support and treatment of patients, increasing the number of scientific tools, and expanding the ability of professionals to use the knowledge and tools effectively in the never ending fight against disease and death. At the same time we can follow following points in dealing with patients in order to improve doctor patient relationship as well as to improve our diagnostic skills:
Never consider the preliminary history and examination of casual importance, but establish and adhere to a routine so that we will not fail to take a complete a history and make a complete clinical examination of every patient.
Never convey to a patient the impression of haste. Avoid unnecessary interruptions. He must feel that his problem is important to us and that our full attention and serious consideration are being concentrated upon it.
Avoid inflicting pain, by gentle manipulation. If momentary pain is unavoidable, warn the patient first, especially a child, who will never forgive or forget if we hurt him/her after promising not to do so.
Never jest with a patient complaining an ailment, nor attempt to belittle his complaints. If he did not regard them seriously he would not be in our clinic. But do not hesitate to reassure him that he does not have serious organic disease after your examination if such were your findings.
Make positive statements on the history and to the patient about normal findings; do not describe the results as “negative”. Use the positive approach regarding hearing that is still present or can be restored rather than negative emphasis on hearing that has been lost irretrievably. The best medicine for many patients with minimal or irreversible disease is sincere reassurance based on a careful history and thorough examination.
Advise and do for the patient exactly what you would choose for yourself or your family, including adequate but not excessive charges for your services. Free advice is rarely followed, and the patient who receives free medical or surgical treatment often becomes dissatisfied.
Although sometimes due to number of patients and paucity of time it becomes difficult to follow these 6 golden rules but nevertheless if we follow them, patient doctor relationship comes out to be extraordinarily satisfactory.
Doctors’ Day affords an excellent opportunity to further good public relations for the medical profession. Hence, it would be a good idea to mark Doctors’ Day with some type of community service projects and activities. As for instance, organizing AIDS and Cancer awareness programmes, blood donation drives, organ donation awareness, anti-smoking campaigns, and medical aid to senior citizens, among others.
We the doctors, back in our practice will find that vast majority of our patients are satisfied with our treatment are grateful to for the skill with which we look after them or their near and dear ones; and have a great deal of respect and regard for us. There would be many who probably owed their life to our timely and competent treatment.
There is also, of course, a small percentage of disgruntled and dissatisfied patients (for real or imaginary reasons). This holds true for each and every doctor. Sometimes the reasons for dissatisfaction are true. But this gives a skewed image of the medical profession and makes it appear that everything is wrong with the profession. This needs to be corrected and mutual trust need to be resurrected.
I always feel that large majority of patients who were recipient of competent and humane treatment from doctors and they have reason to feel grateful to doctors.
They should stand up and express what they surely feel and can have courage to publicly say – Thank you Doctor (on this special day). It will definitely give positive motivation for the Doctors.
Happy Doctors’ Day!

My Experience as a Lok Sabha candidate from Patna Saheb

My Experience as a Lok Sabha candidate from Patna Saheb

What prompted me to enter the election fray is the conviction that a sustained and structural development of India is possible only if educated and right minded people entered the political arena. Corruption is present in the political system of each and every country, varying in proportion. But what is ailing India, is the corruption at pandemic level and criminalization in epidemic level in the political system. Criminalization of political system is a phenomenon that is not visible in any other country in the world at the level it is present in India . One in every 3 persons contesting in election has criminal background. This is unheard of anywhere else in the world.

The initial reactions on my decision to contest election from Patna Sahib Constituency varied from discouraging to very supportive. The support also came from much unexpected corners. People ranging from highly educated to uneducated came out in support with the same voice. You would believe that uneducated people would not understand that there is a need of good people entering the political. But my experience proved otherwise. People from every section of life have at least some level of understanding in this regards. But, people who understand the need for cleansing of political system should come out in greater number and join the political force.

My experience in the current campaign also enlightened me to sad reality of frequent use of money in influencing the voting process. It is very unfortunate that people who fall prey to these short-term monetary gains don’t understand that they are losing in longer-term as the scrupulous politicians will use their money (from tax collections) to build their mansions and 5 years later come back again with very small portion of the same money to win their votes. This is very unfortunate vicious cycle which we need to come out from.

This has been a very positive beginning with very positive experiences. I am happy for the support I got from each and every section of the society. Political cleansing is a long-term process and I am glad to be the part of the beginning. I thank everybody involved in this process for their perpetual support.

Regards,
Dr. Diwakar TejaswiDr Diwakar TejaswiMBBS(Gold Medalist); MCH; FCCP; Ph.D Consultant Physician and Medical DirectorPublic Awareness for Healthful Approach for Living (PAHAL)Harinarayan Complex, Exhibition Road, Patna 800001, IndiaTelefax: +91-612-2206964; Mobile: +91-9835078298/ 9431829397; Res: +91-612-2351771

My Experience as a Lok Sabha candidate from Patna Saheb

My Experience as a Lok Sabha candidate from Patna Saheb

What prompted me to enter the election fray is the conviction that a sustained and structural development of India is possible only if educated and right minded people entered the political arena. Corruption is present in the political system of each and every country, varying in proportion. But what is ailing India, is the corruption at pandemic level and criminalization in epidemic level in the political system. Criminalization of political system is a phenomenon that is not visible in any other country in the world at the level it is present in India . One in every 3 persons contesting in election has criminal background. This is unheard of anywhere else in the world.

The initial reactions on my decision to contest election from Patna Sahib Constituency varied from discouraging to very supportive. The support also came from much unexpected corners. People ranging from highly educated to uneducated came out in support with the same voice. You would believe that uneducated people would not understand that there is a need of good people entering the political. But my experience proved otherwise. People from every section of life have at least some level of understanding in this regards. But, people who understand the need for cleansing of political system should come out in greater number and join the political force.

My experience in the current campaign also enlightened me to sad reality of frequent use of money in influencing the voting process. It is very unfortunate that people who fall prey to these short-term monetary gains don’t understand that they are losing in longer-term as the scrupulous politicians will use their money (from tax collections) to build their mansions and 5 years later come back again with very small portion of the same money to win their votes. This is very unfortunate vicious cycle which we need to come out from.

This has been a very positive beginning with very positive experiences. I am happy for the support I got from each and every section of the society. Political cleansing is a long-term process and I am glad to be the part of the beginning. I thank everybody involved in this process for their perpetual support.

Regards,
Dr. Diwakar TejaswiDr Diwakar TejaswiMBBS(Gold Medalist); MCH; FCCP; Ph.D Consultant Physician and Medical DirectorPublic Awareness for Healthful Approach for Living (PAHAL)Harinarayan Complex, Exhibition Road, Patna 800001, IndiaTelefax: +91-612-2206964; Mobile: +91-9835078298/ 9431829397; Res: +91-612-2351771

Revised BCG vaccination guidelines for infants at risk for HIV infection

Following a review of relevant data, the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) has revised its previous recommendations concerning bacille Calmette1 Guerin (BCG) vaccination of children infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
WHO had previously recommended that in countries with a high burden of tuberculosis (TB), a single dose of BCG vaccine should be given to all healthy infants as soon as possible after birth, unless the child presented with symptomatic HIV infection. However, recent evidence shows that children who were HIV-infected when vaccinated with BCG at birth, and who later developed AIDS, were at increased risk of developing disseminated BCG disease. Among these children, the benefits of potentially preventing severe TB are outweighed by the risks associated with the use of BCG vaccine. GACVS therefore advised WHO to change its recommendation such that children who are known to be HIV-infected, even if asymptomatic, should no longer be immunized with BCG vaccine.

CV Dr Diwakar Tejaswi

PROFILE OF DR DIWAKAR TEJASWI

PERSONAL
NAME: Dr Diwakar Tejaswi
DATE OF BIRTH: 18 August 1968
GENDER: Male
MARITAL STATUS: Married
CITIZENSHIP: Indian
FATHER’S NAME: Dr K K Sharan, ENT Consultant
MOTHER’S NAME: Dr (Mrs) Kiran Sharan, Child Specialist
WIFE: Dr Dipika Tejaswi, MBBS, PGDMCH
DAUGHTER: Diwakshi Tejaswi, Class 5, Notre Dame Academy
BROTHERS: Sudhakar Tapaswi: B.Tech (IIT Kanpur); MBA (Melbourne Business School) presently working at Sydney, Australia
Vibhakar Yashaswi: B.Tech (IIT Delhi); MBA (Florida State University) presently working at Miami, USA.
MAILING ADDRESS: MIG -161, Lohianagar, Kankarbagh, Patna-800 020, Bihar, India
Phone- 00- 91- 612- 2354219 / 2351771/ 9835078298, 9431829397
E.Mail- Diwakartejaswi@yahoo.com, Dtejaswi@ihousa.org


PERMANENT ADDRESS: GRAM- Bir Oriyara, THANA- Dhanarua, Masaurhi, DIST: PATNA
PASSPORT NO: B 0266231


PRESENT APPOINTMENT
Medical Director, Regional AIDS Training Center and Network In India (RATNEI) and Ex-Officio Medical Director, International Health Organization, (IHO), Boston, USA.
B-33, Indirapuri Colony, Patna 800 014, Bihar, India. (Phone: 0612-2586788)

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
Ph.D. - Ph.D. Awarded for the research work titled “Comparative Achievement of Health for All by Different Developing Countries with special reference to Maternal and Child Health”, under the guidance of Dr (Prof) Surya Bhushan, Head of the Dept. of Preventive and Social Medicine cum Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Patna Medical College, Patna University, India. (1999)
MASTER OF COMMUNITY HEALTH (MCH) - from Center for Social Medicine and Community Health, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi (1995).
M.B.B.S - from Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (Magadh University), Patna, India (1992)
FELLOWSHIP: Conducting Health Outcomes Research (July – August 2000) at University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, USA.
CERTIFICATE COURSE on Management Development Program, Sponsored by GOI conducted By IIHMR, Jaipur, India (December 23- December 28, 2002)
RNTCP MODULAR TRAINING at LRS Instt. of Tuberculosis and Allied Diseases, GOI, New Delhi (27.10.2003- 8.11.2003)

CME/ OTHERS:
RUSH UNIVERSITY, USA: 2 credit CME on HIV Tropism, July 2007

JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, USA: CME on Managing Cardiovascular Risk Factors, May 2008

ROYAL COLLEGE ACCREDITED COURSE SERIES, UK: Distance based learning programme on Advance Course in Hypertension, June 2008.

HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL: Ongoing course in Advanced Imaging / Radiology in Tuberculosis.
ACHIEVEMENTS

Stood second in Patna District in Matriculation Examination, securing 84.55% marks. position In State’s Merit List. (1983)
Obtained distinction in all the core subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) in Intermediate of Science Examination, securing 82% (1985)
Stood First in the University in M.B.B.S. Examination, Securing Honours in seven medical subjects, breaking the record of last fifteen years. (74.4% Marks) 1992
Qualified National Eligibility Test for Lectureship/ Junior Research Fellowship Examination conducted By University Grants Commission, India (1994/1995) in the subject ‘Social Medicine And Community Health’.
Honoured with Vishisht Chikitsa Medal (Outstanding Health and Medical Award) for rendering Health Services to the public. (July 1997)
Received State Merit Scholarship throughout studies.
International Health Professional of the year 2005 Award for Outstanding Contribution in the field of Medicine by International Biographical Center of Cambridge, UK
Awarded jointly by 15 NGO’s for Outstanding Work in HIV AIDS (Led by Gramin Vikas Samiti – August 2007)
National Buddha Peace Award 2006 from the then Honorable Governor of Bihar, Dr R S Gavai.
Outstanding Rotarian of the Year Award (2007- 2008)
Nominated for Prestigious Jonathan Mann Award 2007 in Public Health by Global Health Council, USA





WORK EXPERIENCE

SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER, WHO sponsored Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program, State Tuberculosis Office, Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, India (July 2002- September 30, 2005)
CONSULTANT, UNFPA (Part time) for its Reproductive and Sexual Health Project, Bawal Block, Rewari District, Haryana. (June 2003-September 2003)
HEAD & A/DEAN , Department of Health Officer & A/Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, Alemaya University, Ethiopia, under UNDP’s Project Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Ethiopia.( February 1998 To July 2002)
RESEARCH COORDINATOR, Faculty of Health Sciences, Alemaya University. (1999-July2002
RESOURCE PERSON, JANANI, an NGO, affiliated To DKT International, USA, working in the area of Reproductive Health in the Rural and Backward Areas of Bihar State, India. (1997)
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, Department of Community Medicine, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Jolly Grant, Dehradun, Uttar Pradesh, India (1996-97)
LECTURER CUM CONSULTANT, Department of Community Medicine, Dayanand Medical College, Ludhiana, Punjab, India (1996)
RESEARCH OFFICER, Indian Institute of Health Management Research, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India (1995-96)
JUNIOR RESEARCH FELLOW, Center of Social Medicine and Community Health, JNU, Delhi (1994-95)







CONFERENCE & RESEARCH PAPERS: (AVAILABLE ON GOOGLE/ YAHOO SEARCH FOR DIWAKAR TEJASWI.)
Attended International AIDS Meet 2008 at Mexico City in the capacity of Technical Review Committee Member of Prestigious Red Ribbon Award, August 2008.
Attended UN General Assembly special session & High Level Meet on Global TB Leaders and HIV AIDS, June 9-11, 2008 at UN Headquarters, New York, USA
Research Paper on “Home Based Treatment of HIV Kalazar Co Infection”, submitted to HIV 9 Conference, Glasgow, UK (Scheduled in November 2008)
Poster Presentation on RATNEI as a Model for HIV AIDS Capacity Building Programme in South East Asia. (August 2008, Mexico City)
Research Papers on Comparative Study of Most Commonly Used Highly Active Anti Retroviral Treatment (HAART) in Bihar was published at International AIDS Society Meet Abstracts, Sydney (July 22- 25, 2007) and Poster Presentation at Asia Pacific AIDS Meet, Colombo, Sri Lanka (August 19- 23, 2007)
Research paper titled “Issues Related to People Living With HIV-AIDS” presented in The Scientific Programme of Yuva Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India- East Zone, Annual Meet, Patna (December 3-4, 2005)
Presentation titled “The Story of The Family of an AIDS Victim In India” had been accepted for Special Session in The International Conference “AIDS in Culture II”, Papantla, Mexico, December 2005.
Paper titled “Ethical Considerations in AIDS Vaccine Development” accepted for Poster Presentation at National Bioethics Conference, Ethical Challenges In Health Care: Global Context, Indian Reality, November 25, 26 And 27, 2005, YMCA International, Mumbai Central, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
“MEDICAL ETHICS AND PATIENTS RIGHT”, published in the Patna Journal of Medicine, Vol.79, No. 6, August 2005.
Research Paper related to RNTCP and DOTS Strategy in Curing Tuberculosis Patients presented orally as Lecture Presentation (with Bursary Award) at International Conference of American Academy of Family Physicians (Orlando, Florida, USA October 13-17, 2004) and another paper at an International Meet of American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (Miami, USA November 7-11, 2004) where I also chaired the session on Respiratory Infection.
Paper Presentation titled “Global, National & Regional Scenario of HIV-AIDS” organized by Inner Wheel Club, Patna, JIGYASA Program, October 27, 2002.
“Critical Evaluation of Recent Malarial Outbreaks In India”, Journal of the International Association of Agricultural Medicine & Rural Health, Japan, IAAMRH Journal, Vol. 23, No. 1, Spring 2000.
Paper titled “Need Of Continuing Medical Education In Developing Countries” had been accepted for presentation in the Annual Conference of The Association of Medical Education in Europe (AMEE), Beer Sheva, Israel: 27-30 August, 2000.
“Health and Development in Africa” published in the Alemayan, July 2000.
Research paper titled “Association of Acute Childhood Diarrhoea with Water Handling Practices” – Accepted for Lecture Presentation by the Scientific Committee of The International Multidisciplinary Conference on Environmental Medicine, Sept.9, 1999, at University of Graz, Austria.
“Epidemiological Features of Malaria”- Presented at the Symposium organized by Indian Medical Association, Academy of Medical Specialty, Dehradun Branch, India.(May 1997)

FIELDWORK/ COMMUNITY SERVICE EXPERIENCES
In the Tribal Dominated District (Shahdol), Madhya Pradesh, India, Regarding Health Care Delivery System and the Health Status of the Community. (March/April 1995)
In the slums Of Delhi (JJ Colony), where Hepatitis A outbreak was reported. (August 1995)
In Muzaffarpur District of Bihar, where Japanese Encephalitis outbreak was reported. (May-June 1995)
As a Member of Indian Instt. of Health Management Research Team in the end of Project Evaluation of UNFPA assisted Area Development Project in Tonk and Banswara Districts, Rajasthan, India.
Participated in Different Community Health Programs organized by Rotary Club of Patliputra (Including immunization and school health prog.)
Participated in the organization of Swasthya Mela (Health Mela) for school children, organized by Inner Wheel Club Of Patliputra.
We were conducting Family Welfare and School Health Prog. in collaboration with Rural Development Institute, Himalayan Instt. Hospital Trust, Jolly Grant, Dehradun, UP, India.
With an NGO JANANI, in the rural and backward area of Bihar.
In addition to field based assignments, as a part of my course work at CSMCH, JNU, I wrote term papers on several critical public health issues.
Several in house Presentations on Community Health Issues.
At IIHMR, I had developed a broad outline proposal for the Maternal and Child Health Surveillance System for a District.

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES/ RESEARCH PROJECTS
Reviewer of papers on HIV AIDS Research submitted for acceptance at American Public Health Association for three consecutive years 2006, 2007 & 2008.
Mentor for Junior Researchers who planned to present Research Papers at International AIDS Conference, Mexico 2008.
KAP study about HIV-AIDS among ALEMAYA HIGH SCHOOL students.
Study about the Family Planning Methods Awareness and Acceptance among the married women (15-44 yrs age) in Alemaya Town.
Hygienic Status of the Food and Eating Establishment in Alemaya Town.
Mortality and morbidity profile of Alemaya District (based on secondary source of health center register.)
Childhood morbidity pattern in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
Immunization coverage in Alemaya District, Ethiopia.
Factors associated with low utilization of and coverage of Health Services in Alemaya Town.
Recent trend of Malarial outbreaks in Dire Dawa autonomous region, Ethiopia.
Prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women, a health center based case control study.
Chief resource person, SIDA community health project development for Alemaya University.
Chief resource person, Faculty of Health Sciences project proposal for Larenstein funding.
Chief resource person, Unicef and Women’s affairs bureau, Somali National Regional State funded comprehensive reproductive Health Project, Alemaya University, Ethiopia.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
American Academy of Family Physicians, USA.
International AIDS Society
Australasian Society of HIV Medicine, Australia
Royal College of General Practitioners, London
Association of Physicians of India
National Medical Organisation, India
Ethiopian Public Health Association
American Public Health Association
Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine
Active Contributor in AIDS India Forum, AIDS Beyond Borders, Global AIDS Action
Rotary International, District Chairman AIDS Awareness (2008-09) Rotary District 3250.
REFERENCES
1. Padmashree Dr C P Thakur
MP, Rajya Sabha, Patna, Bihar
Ph. 9334707915

2. Padmashree Dr S N Arya
Noted Physician, Patna
Ph 9431021698

3. Padmashree Dr Gopal Prasad Sinha
Noted Physician Bihar
Ph 9431020459

4. Padmashree Ms Sudha Vergese
Danapur Patna
Ph 9431025201

UN Meet on HIV AIDS

“For every 2 persons put on Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) there are 5 new HIV infections”


It was really one of the most thrilling moments of my life when I got the invitation to participate in the United Nation’s General Assembly, Special Session on HIV AIDS deliberations scheduled on 10th and 11th of June 2008 and Global TB Leaders meet scheduled on 9th of June 2008 at UN headquarter, New York. Attending UN session was my long cherished dream since my childhood when in class 5 I read the chapter on League of Nations and United Nations in my Civil Science book.
During the last 15 Years I have been involved with control of TB , HIV AIDS and other communicable diseases in developing world but I was really moved when I had my tenure as Head and Acting Dean of Faculty of Health Sciences, Alemaya University, Ethiopia (1998-2002). I closely saw the encounters with HIV- many of my colleagues were losing their near and dear ones due to AIDS. It will be surprising to most of you to learn that in many African Countries the prevalence of HIV infection has reached up to 30-35% of adult population. One of the inherent social problems of this medical disease was and is noted to be stigma and discrimination.
After my return from Ethiopia to Patna, India, I started my medical practice and started treating lots of AIDS cases. During the interaction with patients, I found many types of discrimination against AIDS patients. One poor lady who lost her husband was thrown out of her house on the pretext that even her breath can spread the disease in whole village. She lost all her hope and decided to commit suicide. I can’t stop my role to be only treating physician. I stepped further and after taking her consent, shared the same biscuit eaten by her in front of all electronic and print media, just to prove that the disease can’t spread even by sharing food items. It was flashed on the cover page of all the leading media and web and I even got appreciation letter from Ex US president Bill Clinton whose foundation is also working against AIDS.
Another thrilling moment of my life came when I got an opportunity to meet Mr. Bill Clinton at UN General Assembly hall during Global TB leaders meet. God had given me the opportunity to meet my source of inspiration.

At 2008 High Level meeting on AIDS, General Assembly, United Nations, New York, various speakers at Plenary highlighted the challenging task of achieving Universal Access target for care, support and treatment by 2010. The fact that for every 2 persons put on ART there are 5 new HIV infections was regarded as a major challenge. More so universal access can't be seen in isolation. It requires well strengthen health care delivery system which is presently at skeleton level in most of the developing countries having the most of the case burden. Trained healthcare manpower must fit in the existing huge gap to play their effective role for the Universal Access target by 2010. At present 3 million people are put on ART worldwide and by 2010, it is expected that 13 million people will need it. This is very big task to be achieved within 2 years, i.e. by 2010.
More resource allocation for strengthening of health care delivery system by national government is immediately needed to fit into the Universal target achievement goal.
At TB HIV Global Leaders Forum, present emerging trend of Multidrug Resistant TB (MDR) and Extensively Drug Resistant TB ( XDR TB ) in Post HIV era was shared by all the panelist including President Bill Clinton and it was stressed that both treatment programme needs integrated approach. But where TB diagnosis and treatment is highly decentralized, even at Microscopy Centers at 1 lakh population and DOTS Centers at extreme peripheries and ART availability at Few Medical Colleges and Hospitals remains an additional challenge.
Apart from these concerns, most important highlight of the event was the echoing of voice at UN corridors, probably for the first time with such intensity. Voices of marginalized sections like Transgender, Men having sex with men (MSM), Injective Drug Users (IDU’s), Refugees, Commercial Sex Workers etc who are having high frequency of infection were heard with respect and concern and removal of travel restrictions of PLHIVs by some countries were strongly decried by the participants.
At the end I am proposing- Let us lit the candle rather than curse the darkness. We will eventually win the fight against AIDS.


Pic1: Dr Diwakar Tejaswi with representative of Transgender Community at UN Meet
Pic 2: Dr Diwakar Tejaswi at UN General Assemble, Special Session on HIV AIDS
Pic 3: Dr Diwakar Tejaswi with Ex US President, Mr. Bill Clinton at UN Meet
Pic 4: Dr Diwakar Tejaswi with other distinguished Indian delegates at UN Meet

Dr Diwakar Tejaswi

Dr Tejaswi Sharing Biscuit With PLWHA