Summer Camp Brings Hope to Children With HIV
China Daily, China, 8/31/2012
The 24 children, mostly orphans whose parents died of AIDS and are HIV positive themselves, attended a five-day summer camp held by the government-supported Chinese Association of AIDS and STD Prevention and Control and the United States based pharmaceutical company Abbott Laboratories. The camp, which started Aug 18, 2012 took the children to beaches in Shenzhen and to Hong Kong Disneyland. About 260,000 children in China had lost parents to AIDS by 2010. The figure stood at 76,000 in 2007.
A Plagiarist’s Rant Against Birth Control
New York Times, Philippines, 8/29/2012
While anatomically illiterate politicians in America babble about ‘legitimate rape,’ a Filipino legislator, Tito Sotto, opposed to birth control has been shedding crocodile tears in Parliament and plagiarizing speeches to bolster the case against reproductive rights. This ‘open war,’ along with intellectual dishonesty of Mr. Sotto’s variety, has undermined any genuine discussion of reproductive rights. The bill is backed by anti-poverty groups, community and women’s organizations, President Aquino himself, and 70 percent of Filipinos.
Gender and Women
Pakistan Observer, Pakistan, 8/29/2012
From the last few centuries in general and from the last century particularly, concept of ‘gender’ has been emerged as a new intellectual discourse. Ironically, in the developing countries, the very term has been confused with the concept of studies of women. However, the case is other way round; gender does not refer to the feminism. The term ‘gender’ has appeared as a vogue over a period of time. It has emerged as a unique discipline in the present times. The misconception about the subject needs to be relooked. The perceived notion about this very subject is that it caters to the needs of women folk sidelining the issues and concerns of men. The term gender incorporates both masculinity and femininity.
How a Vaginal Cream ad has Prompted Debate About Sexuality in India
The Guardian, India, 8/29/2012
An advert for the dubiously named 18 Again, a ‘vaginal tightening and rejuvenation cream’, has caused an outcry in India. While it is not the first cream of its kind – similar products, such as Intivar, are already on sale in the US and elsewhere – it does demonstrate conflicting forces in modern Indian society. Dressed up as empowerment for women, but propagating deeply conservative values, 18 Again indicates that despite increasing consumerism, India has not let go of its repressive attitudes to female sexuality. While the backlash in Indian newspapers and websites shows that women are fighting back, it is anyone`s guess how long it will take for this battle against the dual forces of patriarchy and consumerism in Indian society to be won.
16,000 ‘Illegal’ Hysterectomies Done in Bihar for Insurance Benefit
The Indian Express – Patna, India, 8/27/2012
Over 16,000 hysterectomies (surgical removal of the uterus), most of them ‘unnecessary’, have been reported at private hospitals across Bihar during the last one year allegedly to ‘avail insurance benefit’ under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna. The RSBY was launched by the Centre in April 2008. Under the RSBY, a BPL family can avail maximum Rs 30,000 in case of hospitalisation. A BPL family has to pay Rs 30 for getting registered under the health scheme. The government pays the annual premium amount for BPL families.
Youth Urged to Face Globalization in Smart Ways
The Jakarta Post – Bali, Indonesia, 8/27/2012
Organized by Udayana University’s School of Computers in Denpasar and the Denpasar municipal administration, the workshop was aimed at increasing young people’s awareness on several crucial issues in Bali, such as environmental and cultural issues, as well as health problems, including HIV and AIDS. In one of his cartoons, Jango Pramartha, initiator of the cartoon workshop expressed his concern over the increasing number of HIV and AIDS cases in Bali. However, he did not portray HIV and AIDS as a deadly and cursed disease; instead he featured family members holding a big umbrella over each other. ’I want to say that anybody can contract HIV and AIDS and his or her family can protect and save him or her,’ the cartoonist said
`Changing Bihar` Needs Latest Info on AIDS
The Times of India - Patna, India, 8/27/2012
Some 35 women, all grassroots workers with the Bihar Mahila Samakhya Society, attended a training programme conducted by the local Sambad 0612- 275757 Helpline, Bihar`s only HIV-AIDS counseling service in English, Hindi, Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Patna dialect. Anshuman, a psychology (hons) student of AN College said, ‘Times are changing. India now belongs to people under-30. That`s the reality of life. Lifestyle has changed. Condoms and HIV management are parts of life. No use trying to turn the clock back by banning this and stopping that. It`s time to deal with it.’
Gender Equity Society of Post Graduate Govt College, Organized Orientation Workshop on Gender Equity
The Times of India – Chandigarh, India, 8/25/2012
Gender Equity Society of Post graduate Govt College, Sector-46, organized Orientation workshop on Gender Equity. More than 250 students participated in the Orientation programme. The students were given awareness about the issue of sex selective abortions, gender discrimination and women empowerment. The students pledged to make sincere efforts towards societal development.
‘Juvenile Sex Offenders are Victims Themselves’
The Times of India – Chennai, India, 8/24/2012
In cases of rape involving minors, the victim too is a responsible party, the chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee in Chennai, Agnes Shanthi, said in a surprising argument. It came on August 23, 2012 during a lecture in the city on holding juvenile sex offenders accountable for their actions. Dr Choate, a clinical social worker and lecturer at Mount Royal University in Canada said that this could be remedied by parents educating children about `good` and `bad` touch and encouraging them to report anything unusual. Most juvenile sex offenders (minors who have committed rape), he said, were victims of sexual offences themselves. ‘It is therefore crucial that both the victim and the offender are given therapy to help rehabilitate them.’
3 New ART Centres for People With AIDS, HIV Positive
The Times of India – Patna, India, 8/24/2012
Bihar government has decided to open three new antiretroviral therapy (ART) centres in the state for people living with HIV and AIDS. This would be in addition to the 10 ART centres already existing in the state. This was announced by health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey on August 23, 2012. There are 207 Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres where people are tested for HIV and counselled if they like, Choubey said. ‘Bihar has sought help from the Centre for making arrangements of HIV and AIDS investigation at every health centre across the state.’
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