Health (General) – Newsletter for December 2, 2010

Number of polio cases radically down: Azad

NEW DELHI – Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Thursday said the new bivalent polio vaccines have brought down the number of polio cases to just 39, from 800 last year.

Speaking at a health summit organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Azad said the vaccine which targets both type 1 and type 3 … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Number of polio cases radically down: Azad.

Finger length clue to risk of prostate cancer?

LONDON – A man’s risk of prostate cancer can be gauged by looking at his hands – those with index fingers longer than ring fingers are significantly less likely to develop the disease, according to a study.

It is thought that less exposure to the sex hormone testosterone in the womb results in a longer …. Source  : Finger length clue to risk of prostate cancer?.

Azad invites private sector in healthcare infra

NEW DELHI – Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Thursday urged the private sector to participate in the health ministry’s project of building hospitals and medical colleges on land owned by the railways.

Over 400 sites (owned by railway ministry) have been identified and handed over to the health ministry. We will work with state …. Source article  : Azad invites private sector in healthcare infra.

Unicef teams up with West Bengal for total sanitation campaign

KOLKATA – With a view to improve sanitation and hygiene and safe water in West Bengal, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) has joined hands with the West Bengal government to roll out a total sanitation campaign Dec 1-7 across the state.

With 35 million people defecating in the open and a substantial number of … Read more : Unicef teams up with West Bengal for total sanitation campaign.

How swallowing worms can heal ulcerative colitis

WASHINGTON – A man who swallowed worm eggs to relieve symptoms of ulcerative colitis has shed new light on how worms promote healing in the intestine.

The study also identifies potential targets for more conventional ways of treating colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease.

“The idea for treating colitis with worms is not new, but how … Read more >>>.

Douse that anger with spoonful of sugar

LONDON – High sugar levels seem to help control aggression and prevent loss of temper, so indicates a study.

Ohio State University researchers in the US compared the behaviour of sugar-starved volunteers with those who had been given a sweet drink, and concluded the latter were less inclined to snap.
Researchers believe the … Original article on : Douse that anger with spoonful of sugar.

Focus on states with low AIDS prevalence, high vulnerability: Azad (Second Lead)

NEW DELHI – As World AIDS Day was observed Dec 1, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad called for focusing, under the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP), on states with low prevalence of the infection but high vulnerability.

Speaking at the function to mark conclusion of the AIDS awareness train Red Ribbon Express, Azad said the … Read more : Focus on states with low AIDS prevalence, high vulnerability: Azad (Second Lead).

New pictorial warnings on tobacco products in effect

NEW DELHI – Tobacco products in the country must carry a new set of pictorial warnings depicting a cancer-stricken mouth from Dec 1, a notification by the ministry of health and family welfare said Wednesday.

Tobacco product retailers and distributors who fail to comply will face legal consequences with a fine and imprisonment under Section … Read more : New pictorial warnings on tobacco products in effect.

37 Bangladeshis died due to AIDS in 2010

DHAKA – Thirty-seven people died this year due to AIDS as the total number of HIV/AIDS cases in Bangladesh rose to over 2,000, the country’s health minister said Wednesday.

The number of AIDS cases rose to 2,088, compared to 1,745 in 2009, Health and Family Welfare Minister Ruhul Huq said at a programme organised in … Read more : 37 Bangladeshis died due to AIDS in 2010.

Thousands of men in UK shave off moustaches as Movember ends

LONDON – As the month of November ended, thousands of men in Britain were very ecstatic, reason being that they could finally cut off the moustaches they had been growing to bring awareness of prostate cancer.

The men had been growing their Mos, or moustaches to the uninitiated, from the start of November, turning the …. Original article  : Thousands of men in UK shave off moustaches as Movember ends.