- Global meet on arsenic pollution of ground water
The international conference on arsenic poisoning in ground water to be held in Dhaka from February 9 to 12, is expected to focus the attention of scientists from across the globe to this scourge, which changes the lives of so many hapless people, bringing in its wake death, disfiguration and …
- Egypt celebrates ban on female circumcision
Rights groups and the government are celebrating a longsought court ban against cutting women's genitals , viewing it as a rare victory in their quest to better the lot of Egyptian women.
9.4 billion in half a century
The United Nations has predicted the world population will grow to 9.4 billions by 2050 and would stabilise at about 11 billions by 2200. The projection has been made by the Population division of the U.N. Economic and Social Affairs Department, which is responsible for studying and promoting improvements in …
- Fresh ckicken back in HK after 6 weeks
Thousands of Chinese chickens were trucked across the border to Hong Kong today , ending a sixweek ban inposed after an outbreak of bird flu that killed six people.
- 2,50,000 suffering from leprosy in Bangladesh
The number of leprosy patients is alarmingly increasing as the Leprosy Eradication Programmes in the Sunamganj district is being hampered owing to lack of fund, absence of specialists and inadequate motivational work. According to Dhaka based leprosy control source there are 2,50,000 leprosy patients in Bangladesh of whom 435 patients …
- Anti-mosquito drive to be intensified
A meeting of Municipal councillors, representatives of voluntary organisations, educational institutions, religious movements, public servants and social workers, held here has decided to intensify anti-mosquito drive in the Municipal limits.A comprehensive survey of the nature of septic tanks and drains in the town, will be held with the help of …
- Serial killer at large
While new infections with HIV, continues to fall in neighbouring Uganda, the figures in Kenya just keep mounting up. The government estimates that around 8% of the country's adult population has HIV. International health experts put the figure at twice that. In Nairobi and some other big cities, one pregnant …
- How AIDS began
In 1959 a man living in Congo gave a blood sample to some American doctors who were studying human genetics. When they had finished with it, instead of dropping it in a rubbish bin the doctors put it in a freezer, where it hung around, half frogotten, until 1986. In …
- And they all lived happily ever after
According to Thomas Perls, the director of the New England Centenarian study at Harvard University, dying at 100 is qualitively different from dying at 80. Dr Perls's research suggests that for the "oldest old", extended life is usually not the gradual deterioration, increasing decreptiude and vanishing independence that most people …
- Medicine gets Chinese boost
With its close links to China, it may seem paradoxical that Hong Kong has long lagged behind Taiwan, Japan and South Korea in integrating traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) into its healthcare system. But now, there are plans to turn the SAR into an export centre for Chinese herbal products.
Mobile clinic for heart check-up
The Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre has launched a mobile school-cum-clinic of echocardiography for free detecion of heart disease among people. This was announced at the fourth annual conference of Indian Academy of Echocardiography.
- WHO warning over imports
With imports of the live chickens - banned during the outbreak of bird flu last year-set to begin on February 7, the World Health Organisation has urged the SAR to remain on high alert for the deadly virus. Intensive surveillance for the H5N1 strain should be kept up for six …
IMA holds meeting with NGOs
The Indian Medical Association, the apex body of medical doctors all over the country, held a meeting of leading non-governmental organisations of Delhi and representives of various blood banks to achieve better coordination for increasing supply of blood through voluntary blood donation. The requirement of blood in Delhi is estimated …
Mobile surgery unit
The Delhi State will soon get a mobile key hole surgery unit to perform 1,000 laparoscopic operations annually, renowned Surgeon, Mr. P.R.Kucheria, said here on Thursday.
Poor sanitation stunts infants' growth
Report: A study has been initiated to find out the relationship between sanitation and growth stunting. This will study 800 children in two locations in South Asia and 800 more in two locations in sub-Saharan Africa from the time their mothers become pregnant to when the children are two years …
The tree of long life?
The ancient ginkgo tree, native to China, may hold some of the secrets to reducing the signs of ageing, if not to eternal youth. The ginkgo is thought to contain chemical catalysts called "ginkgolides", which protects against heart disease and stroke.
Russia, Nasa will study life in space
Russian and American scientists are joining efforts to look into evidence that life may have originated on planets other than earth, a researcher has said. Scientists have found what appears to be fossilised bacteria and fungi on meteorites some 4.5 billion years old about the same age as the earth, …
- Justice favours immunity for tobacco deal
The US Justice Department said it would favour granting some form of immunity from future civil lawsuits to the tobacco industry as part of the proposed $368.5bn settlement being considered by Congress.
