Sunday, February 7, 2021, is the annual observance of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD). The Strategic Leadership Council is the community group that sets the direction for NBHAAD. This year’s observance comes at a time of renewed concern and action for health equity and inclusion across the nation.

We’ve put together a list of resources from HIV.gov and our federal partners to help you get involved with NBHAAD and spread the word.

Where to Go

Our NBHAAD Awareness Day page has resources such as the NBHAAD logo, fact sheets, and other materials from the community and across the U.S. Government. We feature the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) NBHAAD digital toolkit and their Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign resources that you can use and share. We’ll also add registration details for some upcoming webinars hosted by the HHS Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP) and CDC that anyone can join.

We encourage you to stay tuned for the Strategic Leadership Council’s communications about this year’s observance. And be sure not to miss the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America (EHE) initiative quarterly stakeholder webinar on January 27, which will provide updates on major federal activities related to EHE implementation and highlight ways to improve HIV diagnosis, care and prevention outcomes for Black women. Register here  to join.

What to Know

Given the disproportionate impact of HIV on Black communities, we encourage you to learn what’s happening with EHE implementation. This data-driven, locally-implemented effort continues its important work to reduce new HIV infections even as our nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic proceeds.

PrEP is an important HIV prevention tool and the Ready Set PrEP program may be right for you or eligible individuals with whom you work. Please share information about the HIV Services Locator, where individuals can find PrEP providers in their local area.

HIV self-testing is a key strategy to improve testing uptake and increase diagnoses, particularly in these times when face-to-face testing services have been disrupted. Find information about self-testing on HIV.gov. Please use and share the Locator to find testing services nearby. (Be sure to call ahead to inquire about the availability of self-testing.)

HIV treatment helps people with HIV stay healthy and live longer. There is also a major prevention benefit: people with HIV who take HIV medicine daily as prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load have effectively no risk of sexually transmitting HIV to an HIV-negative partner. Please share information about the importance of getting and staying on HIV treatment.

For more information, we provide basic HIV facts about HIV prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Know the facts and spread the word (along with your encouragement and support) with friends and family members who have not been tested for HIV, might be at risk, or are living with HIV.

How to Share

The hashtag for NBHAAD 2021 is #NBHAAD. Let your voice be heard by using the hashtag on your social media.

The following channels are part of the conversation, give them a follow, like or share:

• Facebook: HIVgov , CDC HIV , and Start Talking Stop HIV 
• Twitter: @HIVGov , @CDC_HIV/AIDS , @DrMerminCDC 
• Instagram: @HIVgov , @stophivtogether , @starttalkinghiv 

Find Out More

We’ll be posting content on our blog and on our social media channels throughout NBHAAD. Want to make sure you don’t miss out on the latest HIV resources, policies, and programs? Sign up to receive email updates.

The post How to Share the News about National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

Pune, Nov. 26, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — According to the report, the cardiovascular devices market size was USD 49.90 billion in 2018 and is projected to rise at a CAGR of 6.4% between 2019 and 2026. The global market size is prognosticated to reach USD 82.20 billion by 2026 on account of the increasing cases of cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery disease, heart failure, congenital heart disease, heart attack, cardiomyopathy, and others.  

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• October 2019 – BIOTRONIK announced the launch of the PK Papyrus Covered Coronary Stent in the United States, for usage in the emergency treatment of acute coronary perforations.
• May 2019 – Medtronic announced the launch of the Telescope Guide Extension Catheter, a newly designed catheter for the additional backup support and the access to distal lesions, which will enable the support of the complex coronary cases where the distal lesions were not accessible.
• October 2017 – Abbott announced the introduction of the next generation of the most widely used heart stent for people suffering from coronary artery disease in Europe called the XIENCE Sierra, which is the newest generation of drug-eluting XIENCE stent.

Rising Prevalence of Cardiovascular Diseases to Boost Market

The most important factor driving the market is the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. This, coupled with the advent of advanced technological diagnostics for the diagnosis of heart diseases, is creating lucrative growth opportunities. Besides this, the increasing awareness and initiatives taken by regional governments are expected to propel the cardiovascular devices market growth. Additionally, major investments are made to cater to the rising demand for cardiovascular surgical devices, and this will help the market gain momentum in the forecast period.

However, the market may be negatively impacted by the inability of vendors to invest in research and development of cardiovascular systems following its inefficiency with reimbursement models. Nevertheless, the advent of advanced safety and remote monitoring in the latest devices is likely to create lucrative growth opportunities for the market in the long run.

Presence of Major Vendors Strengthening North America Market Share

Geographically, the global cardiovascular devices market is widespread into the regions of North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Among these, North America is holding the major cardiovascular devices market share, followed by Europe.

This is on account of the presence of major manufacturers in Canada and the U.S. On the other side, the market in Asia Pacific is likely to earn significant cardiovascular device market revenue on account of the rise in prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and the regulatory scenario of the market.

Major Companies Aiming to Expand Product Portfolio Will Intensify Market Competition

As per the 2018 records, three companies are holding the maximum cardiovascular devices market share, namely Boston Scientific Corporation, Medtronic, and Abbott. High revenue generation from these companies is attributable to the strong product portfolio, including heart valves, advanced stents, and other cardiovascular products.

Cardiovascular devices market manufacturers are emphasizing on cardiopulmonary production, which will further help to earn high revenues, especially from previously untreatable patients.

Quick Buy –  Cardiovascular Devices Market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/102418

List of Significant Cardiovascular Devices Companies are as follows:

• Terumo Cardiovascular Systems Corporation
• Siemens Healthcare GmbH
• B. Braun Melsungen AG
• Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.
• Abbott
• Medtronic 
• Cordis (Cardinal Health)
• LivaNova PLC
• GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY (GE Healthcare)
• Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
• Boston Scientific Corporation
• Others

Global Cardiovascular Devices Market Segmentations:

By Device Type

•              Diagnostic and Monitoring Devices

o              Electrocardiogram (ECG)

o              Remote Cardiac Monitoring

o              Others

•              Therapeutic and Surgical Devices

o              Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD)

o              Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) Devices

o              Catheter

o              Stents

o              Heart Valves

•              Others

By Application

•              Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

•              Cardiac Arrhythmia

•              Heart Failure

•              Others 

By End User

•              Hospitals

•              Specialty Clinics

•              Others 

By Geography

•              North America (U.S. and Canada)

•              Europe (U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia, and Rest of Europe)

•              Asia Pacific (Japan, China, India, Australia, Southeast Asia, and Rest of Asia Pacific)

•              Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and Rest of Latin America)

•              Middle East & Africa (South Africa, GCC and Rest of Middle East & Africa)

SECONDARY DATA SOURCES THAT WE REFER TO:

• Annual reports, investor presentation, SEC filings, and press releases of companies operating in the market
• Studies published by relevant associations MedTech Europe; American College of Radiology; Cancer Council Australia; Japan Hospital Association, etc.), government sources (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Ministry of Health, Labour & Welfare, Japan; National Health Service, England, etc.), international organizations (World Health Organization, The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Eurostat, etc.), and articles published by Research Gate, NCBI, etc.
• Website, reports, and press releases of end user facilities – Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgery Centres, Clinics
• Industry journals and paid databases

SECONDARY RESEARCH IS CONDUCTED TO DERIVE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

• Details such as revenues, market share, strategies, growth rate, product & their pricing by region/country for all major companies
• Details in relation to prevalence, incidence, patient numbers, distribution of patients, average price of treatment, etc.
• Number of end user facilities by region/country and average annual spending or procurement of devices by type of end user facility
• Number of procedures and average price of procedures
• Replacement rate and pricing of capital equipment
• Market dynamics in relation to the market under focus – Drivers, restraints, trends, and opportunities
• Market & technological trends, new product developments, product pipeline.

Have a Look at Related Reports:

Medical Transcription Software Market Share & Industry Analysis, By Deployment (Cloud/Web-Based and Installed/On-Premises), By End User Facility (Hospitals, Diagnostic Centers, Clinics, and Others), By Type (Voice Capture and Voice Recognition), By End User (Radiologists, Surgeons, Clinicians, and Others), and Regional Forecast 2019-2026

Bovine Lactoferrin Market Share Trends & Industry Analysis, By Product (Spray-dried, and Freeze-dried), By Application (Infant Formula, Pharmaceuticals, Dietary Supplements, Food, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026

Knee Replacement Market Share & Industry Analysis, By Procedure (Total Knee Arthroplasty, Partial Knee Arthroplasty, and Revision Arthroplasty) By Implant Type (Fixed Bearing, Mobile Bearing, and Others) End-user (Hospitals, Orthopedic Clinics, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, and Others) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026

Electrophysiology Devices Market Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Ablation Catheters, Diagnostic Catheters, Mapping Systems, Accessories & Others), By Application (Atrial Fibrillation, Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT), Ventricular Tachycardia, and Others), By End User (Hospitals & ASCs, and Specialty Clinics & Diagnostic Centers), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026

Vaccines Market Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Recombinant/Conjugate/Subunit, Inactivated, Live Attenuated and Toxoid), By Route of Administration (Parenteral and Oral), By Disease Indication (Viral Diseases and Bacterial Diseases), By Age Group (Pediatric and Adults), By Distribution Channel (Hospital & Retail Pharmacies, Government Suppliers and Others) and Region Forecast, 2019-2026

About Us:

Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them to address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in.

Our reports contain a unique mix of tangible insights and qualitative analysis to help companies achieve sustainable growth. Our team of experienced analysts and consultants use industry-leading research tools and techniques to compile comprehensive market studies, interspersed with relevant data.

At Fortune Business Insights we aim at highlighting the most lucrative growth opportunities for our clients. We, therefore, offer recommendations, making it easier for them to navigate through technological and market-related changes. Our consulting services are designed to help organizations identify hidden opportunities and understand prevailing competitive challenges.

The post Global Cardiovascular Devices Market to Rise at 6.4% CAGR and Reach USD 82.20 Billion by 2026; Rising Awareness and Increasing Demand for Cardiovascular Surgical Devices Will Promote Market Growth, says Fortune Business Insights™ Key Prominent Players Covered in the Cardiovascular Devices Market Research Report Are Terumo Cardiovascular Systems Corporation, Siemens Healthcare GmbH, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., Abbott, Medtronic, Cordis, LivaNova PLC, GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, Boston Scientific Corporation and other key market players. appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

Posted By Staff Writer on Nov 2, 2020

The Seton Hall softball team held a breast cancer awareness month-themed practice in mid-October, bringing attention to the disease through the team’s social media pages.

The idea for the event was inspired by the connections some of the players have to people with the disease, head coach Paige Smith said.

“Women, in general, need to raise awareness because statistics are showing that we’re pretty likely to be touched by it in some way whether personal or in our close circle,” Smith said.

Because breast cancer has hit close to home for many softball players, including sophomore Taylor Soanes, the team felt it was necessary to put together this practice.

“It was very important to me that we did this practice because my mom has been affected so it was close to my heart and I liked seeing that my teammates had my back on something that I believe in and I know they believe in as well,” Soanes said.

Throughout the years, the team has always found ways to donate and raise awareness for this disease.

The idea to host this practice in pink shirts originally came from something known as the Think Pink Game that the team has done in the past, Smith said. The players wore pink shirts without numbers and gave their opponents the opportunity to do so as well.

In years past, usually during the month of October, the recreation center has also done spin classes in which the proceeds were donated to breast cancer.

Smith said she would cancel plans that the team had during that week and require them to sign up for a class to make sure her team was putting resources behind causes they believe in.

Every October, the team finds a cause to support, and most of the time it is breast cancer, Smith said.

She said she felt that the pandemic has been a good time to raise awareness for this disease because it helps her team focus on how they can uplift others.

“I think anything to take distraction off the current state of the world is good, and if you can put that energy into something that is going to lift other people, that is a time spent well,” Smith said.

The practice has also been widely promoted on social media by the team, particularly on Twitter and Instagram, because they felt it was a way to show their support and reach out to people who have been affected.

“Support from family and friends is the biggest thing when you’re going through times like this and you have cancer because it helps you through the recovery process and the battle of it,” Soanes said.

One thing that Smith said she hopes her athletes took away from the practice is that sport is always bigger than the player, especially with the absence of games.

If another awareness event comes about, Soanes said that she hopes her team has the same expectations of going all out and wants to continue planning more events like this.

The post Softball looks to uplift spirits with breast cancer awareness practice appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

Award-winning Wirral author and breast cancer survivor Estelle Maher, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019, is preparing to lift the lid on her own experience with the publication of a new book.

The Killing of Tracey Titmass is the author’s third novel and it will be officially launched during a virtual event on October 29 to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month which runs throughout October.

The book, which is written in diary format, re-tells Estelle’s own roller-coaster journey of living with cancer, through the eyes of fictional character Jo Kearns and it’s hoped it will help others suffering with the disease.

Both humorous and poignant, the inspiring tale covers the raw emotions and physical discomforts associated with diagnosis, surgery, treatment and life post-cancer.

In the story Jo’s cancer tumour is given a life of its own and is personified through the character Tracey Titmass – an unwanted housemate, who has long overstayed her welcome.

Esther, says she hadn’t planned on turning her own experiences into a book.

I kept a diary because writing helped me to come to terms with my own emotions. It helped to stop my head feeling so fizzy and was to some extent, medicinal. I hadn’t planned on turning it into a book but then friends suggested that it might help others going through a similar experience.

“It took me several attempts. It sounds daft but at first I didn’t feel comfortable with inflicting cancer on a character. I know it’s all fictional but it just seemed too cruel and emotionally I found that very difficult.

“But, once I’d decided to write the book in diary format and attribute my own timeline of events to the character, it became a bit easier to write. It was more personal and all the interactions and hospital appointments are all based on true events and things that really happened to me.

“I want people to read it and not feel isolated. Many of the emotions you experience through something like this are normal and I want people to know they’re not on their own. Cancer never really goes away and learning to live with that and cope with life afterwards is an important part of the message within this book. Cancer doesn’t define you but it does become a part of your identity in so many ways.”

There will be a virtual Q&A session with Estelle on October 29 at Write Blend bookshop on South Road, Waterloo, Liverpool, Merseyside, as part of the official book launch.

Bookshop owner Bob Stone will interview Estelle during the Facebook Live session and fans will be invited to ask questions.

The book, published by Southport-based publisher Beaten Track Publishing, will be available to purchase from Write Blend and also online at Amazon. Her debut novel Grace and the Ghost is an Amazon Bestseller and also won the award for Best Spiritual Fiction Book at the 2018 Soul and Spirit Awards.  Sequel Angel’s Rebellion was published in 2018.

For more information about author Estelle Maher visit her website

The post Wirral author publishes new book to support breast cancer patients appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

An Undergraduate Assembly representative is working to raise awareness about pre-exposure prophylaxis, an HIV-prevention drug, and its availability through Student Health Services.

College first-year and UA representative David Garnick said his project’s focus is to make sure students know that they can get PrEP for free through the Penn Student Insurance Plan, or at a reduced cost through SHS. He added that he hopes to create information sessions at the LGBT Center and Campus Health and put posters around campus to educate students on what the pill is and how to obtain it.

PrEP is a pill that prevents HIV from establishing a permanent infection, and reduces the risk of contracting HIV through sex by 99% when taken daily. Garnick said one of the main barriers to PrEP is the cost. The drug can cost up to $13,000 a year without insurance.

“People just don’t know about it, and then people also can’t afford it,” Garnick said.

SHS Medical Director Vanessa Stoloff said the Penn Student Insurance Plan covers PrEP. Director of Campus Health Ashlee Halbritter said for students seeking access to PrEP with private insurance plans that do not fully cover the pill, SHS and Campus Health work with local public health agencies such as the Mazzoni Center to secure coupons and rebates to lower the cost of PrEP. 

Halbritter said, however, that PrEP will become free under all private insurance plans in July 2020 after the United States Preventive Services Task Force gave the drug an “A” rating in June 2019. The Affordable Care Act requires insurers to cover services that have a rating of “A” or “B” in the current recommendations of the USPSTF.

“There’s only so much we can do with the expenses and the relationships that we have in terms of right bonus coverage or coupons or rebates that the company could give,” Stoloff said. “Once that’s a moot point, there really shouldn’t be any barriers.”

Because all private insurance plans will begin covering the drug in July, Halbritter said that SHS and Campus Health plan to primarily target the campaign for the fall. Garnick said, however, that he hopes to start raising awareness for the HIV-prevention drug this semester.

Halbritter said Campus Health and Garnick plan to put posters in college houses and common spaces where students living off-campus and graduate students can see them. 

“From a public health perspective, we’re very interested in making sure that students know that this is a resource available,” Halbritter said.

College-age students made up 80% of new youth HIV diagnoses in 2016. According to an analysis of an October 2019 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Philadelphia ranks third nationwide for highest STD rates. 

“I really want to find a way for us to have different programming surrounding PrEP so we can get students much more engaged with the idea of taking this in order for our generation to fully eradicate HIV and AIDS,” Garnick said.

The post PrEP is 99% effective in preventing HIV. The UA wants to raise awareness of the drug at Penn. appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

A charity is calling for more awareness of endometrioisis after 20 women from North Somerset were hospitalised with the chronic condition last year.

NHS Digital data shows Weston Area Health NHS Trust admitted 20 women and girls to hospital with a main diagnosis of endometriosis in 2018-19.

Of these, at least one was an emergency case, with a patient arriving through A&E or rushed to hospital after visiting their GP.

Endometriosis is a chronic condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows elsewhere in the body, such as around the ovaries.

The tissue sheds in the same way blood does during the menstrual cycle, but it has nowhere to escape, which causes inflammation, pain and a build-up of scar tissue.

More than a million women aged from puberty to menopause are thought to be affected by endometriosis, with an estimated cost of £8.2billion to the economy.

According to charity Endometriosis UK, it takes an average time of seven-and-a-half years for women to get a diagnosis.

Chief executive Emma Cox said more awareness is needed among healthcare practitioners and the general public.

She said: “Many people don’t even realise the pain they are suffering isn’t normal after years of being told they must have a low-pain threshold and to put up with it.

“No-one should have to suffer for years, possibly losing their job and chance to have children because of endometriosis, yet, heartbreakingly, it happens all the time.”

There is no cure for endometriosis and it can be difficult to diagnose, and treatments can include painkillers and contraceptives, and in extreme cases, a hysterectomy.

The average age of patients admitted to Weston Area Health Trust in 2018-19 was 36.

The trust says the main symptoms of endometriosis are painful, heavy or irregular periods, pelvic pain and painful bowel movements.

If women find they have symptoms of endometriosis which are impacting their lives, they are advised to see the advice of their GP.

The post Call for more awareness of endometriosis due to hospital admissions appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

We need to communicate to kids that their health, not a number on the scale, is what’s important

According to a new report recently released by the World Obesity Federation, obesity will affect more than 250 million kids by 2030. While media outlets and newsfeeds continuously remind us of the rising rates of childhood obesity—which have tripled in the past 20 years—far less attention has been paid to the complex solutions needed to address this problem.

It seems the obvious answer to the rising prevalence of childhood obesity would be to reduce calorie intake and increase physical activity. If calories out exceed calories in then weight loss is inevitable, right? Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. And the hundreds of campaigns and interventions attempting to tackle childhood obesity are a testament of that. Take, for example, the large-scale WAVES study, which after a 12-month intervention across 54 schools, showed no differences between intervention and control schools in terms of improvements in students’ body mass index (BMI). School-based interventions may have little impact on obesity without broader societal and environmental efforts in place.

Initiatives to address childhood obesity may be further compromised by a lack of consideration to the underlying messages they send to children and families. Many approaches targeting obesity are based on the assumption that body weight is within personal control and that individuals have the ability to change their weight. We assume that change won’t occur unless individuals believe they have the power to change. For example, in schools, promoting beliefs about the controllability of intelligence have been shown to increase academic effort. And in the case of emotions, controllability has been associated with more positive emotion regulation.
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Body weight, however, is another story.

Instead of encouraging a mindset motivated to change, messages that perpetuate beliefs that obesity is within personal control can instead increase societal stigma and self-blame. Beyond blatant fat-shaming and pervasive negative portrayals of individuals with larger bodies in the media, seemingly innocuous messages can produce potent stigma. The Late Late Show host, James Cordon, recently described the harmful effects of fat shaming, and how a judgmental gaze intended to restrain eating would be enough to evoke feelings of shame and self-loathing.

By emphasizing behavioral control as a method of weight loss, we are simultaneously (and at times unintentionally) placing blame on individuals who struggle to lose weight. This blame becomes internalized, surfacing as a cascade of emotional, physiological and behavioral problems that can undermine physical and psychological health.

This fact is particularly worrisome given that youth of all body shapes and sizes are vulnerable to weight stigma. Over and above BMI, weight stigma is linked with low self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, suicide ideation, low physical activity levels and depressive symptoms among adolescents. When youth are stigmatized, shamed or teased about their weight, they are more likely to engage in unhealthy eating behaviors, such as binge eating or high calorie consumption, avoid physical activity and gain weight—contributing to a vicious cycle of psychological distress, social withdrawal, unhealthy behaviors and weight gain.

So, it’s time to take a step back and look carefully at the messages being communicated in interventions to address childhood obesity. Fundamentally, messages should emphasize health and health behaviors, rather than body weight. We need to communicate to children that their health, not a number on the scale, is important.
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Reducing blame starts with raising awareness of the complex factors that contribute to body weight and the harmful consequences of weight stigma— in the media, the classroom, on the field, and at home. In addition to education, policies are needed to appropriately address weight-based mistreatment, such as school-based anti-bullying policies that adequately protect students in the face of weight-based bullying. And, finally, just as diversity surrounding other social stigmas, like those based on race/ethnicity or disability status, has proven effective in reducing stigma, increasing exposure to diverse bodies in positive ways will be critical to disrupting the harmful cycle of stigma.

While the issue of childhood obesity is complex public health priority, we must be certain that the messages we send serve to empower and support healthy behaviors among youth irrespective of body weight itself.

The post The War on Childhood Obesity Needs a War on Blame appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

Following findings from a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) study outlining the wide-ranging toll of endometriosis, supporters — including Endometriosis UK — are calling for stakeholders from government, healthcare, and business to step up efforts to improve the lives of the 1.5 million women in the U.K. who have the chronic and debilitating disease.

Nearly all of the study’s 13,500 participants said endometriosis has badly affected their career, sex life, and mental health. In addition, most said the disease has adversely impacted their education, and that they rely on prescription painkillers, including opioids, for ongoing treatment. About half of the women respondents said they have experienced suicidal thoughts.

“This shocking new research is a stark reminder that both society and the NHS (National Health Service) need to wake up and accept that endometriosis is a chronic condition that cannot be brushed under the carpet,” Emma Cox, Endometriosis UK CEO, said in a press release. “The impact it can have on all aspects of a person’s life — both physically and mentally — must be recognized.”

The study, a survey said to be the largest of its kind, questioned women in the U.K. about how endometriosis has affected them. Endometriosis UK assisted the BBC in collecting survey answers.

Cox called for efforts to reduce the time to diagnosis — currently 7.5 years on average — for women with the disorder. Pelvic pain associated with endometriosis is typically indistinguishable from other causes, including menstruation, urinary tract infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. That makes rendering a diagnosis difficult.

“Without investment in research, a reduction in diagnosis time and better access to pain management, women will continue to face huge barriers in accessing the right treatment at the right time,” she said.

Saying that endometriosis costs the UK £8.2 billion (about $9.1 billion) annually, Endometriosis UK is urging the government to fully implement the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. Those guidelines, set forth in 2017 in “Endometriosis: Diagnosis and Management,” established minimum care to which patients should have access.

For her part, Caroline Dinenage, Minister of State at the Department of Health and Social Care, said that while endometriosis awareness is increasing, more work is needed.

“Too often across society, women’s bodies are seen as an inconvenience, with their symptoms and health concerns not taken seriously enough,” she said.

By adhering to the NICE guidelines, clinicians can help erode stigmas around the disease, Dinenage said. She also called for employers to create supportive and flexible ways to help those living with the disorder.

As a result of the study, Members of Parliament are expected to launch their own inquiry into the disease’s effects.

Other advocacy groups also are calling for change.

“Health services need to wake up to the hidden and unspoken emotional pain too many women experience without the help they need to manage such a poorly understood and distressing condition,” said Sarah Hughes, CEO of the UK’s Centre for Mental Health.

Study participant Bethany Willis, 19, of the county of Essex in southeast England, said in an article on the BBC’s website that she started experiencing symptoms at age 9. However, despite having a mother and grandmother with the same disorder, she was not diagnosed with endometriosis until this summer.

“The pain is like barbed wire wrapped around your insides and someone’s pulling it away while at the same time an animal is trying to eat its way through you,” she said.

Willis said the pain was so severe that it caused her to take an overdose of medication. While recent surgery has helped her cope with the condition, she laments having dropped out of veterinary school and giving up her “dream career.”

According to the Endometriosis Foundation of America, roughly 200 million women globally are affected by the disease, which occurs when bits of uterus tissue lining grow on other pelvic organs.

The post Findings of BBC Study Spark Call for Action for Better Endometriosis Care in UK appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

With the growing number of HIV patients in Odisha raising a big concern, Health Minister Naba Kishore Das said public awareness is a must for control and eradication of AIDS.

Speaking at the State Level Sensitization and Preparatory Meeting for Intensive Health Camp-2019-20 organised by the Odisha State AIDS Control Society (OSACS) here on Wednesday, Minister Das said that AIDS has emerged as a dreaded disease since last few decadesand its lengthy and expensive treatment adversely impacts the socio-economic condition of the patient.

Urging for change in mindset for HIV-affected people, Das said that AIDS could be controlled with regular medical treatment and nutritious food.

As on July 2019, as many as 48,894 AIDS patients have been identified in Odisha and 86 percent of them have been treated through antiretroviral therapy free of cost. 96 percent pregnant women in the State have been tested for AIDS and of them 226 have been identified with the virus. Of the 99 percent common people, 3,273 have been diagnosed with the deadly virus. However, the spread of the disease has been checked to a great extent through the sincere effort by the State Government and massive awareness campaign ‘Know Your HIV Status’ by OSACS.

During the programme, OSACS Project Director Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar spoke about the various measures and awareness programmes initiated by the OSACS to check spread of AIDS in Odisha.

Speaking on the occasion, State Labour Commissioner Niranjan Sahoo said that awareness about AIDS among migrant labourers is essential to arrest the spread of the disease in Odisha. According to private sources, every year 2 to 6 lakh people of Odisha migrate to other States in search of work. Especially, people from Balangir and Nuapada districts move to neighbouring States and work in brick kilns for over six months in a year in very unhygienic conditions and get infected by HIV due to lack of awareness. These people should be included in various welfare schemes launched by the Odisha Government so as to check migration and spread of AIDS in the State, opined Sahoo.

The post Awareness must to control AIDS: Min appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

Sexual harassment at workplace is a universal problem in the world whether it be a developed nation or a developing nation or an underdeveloped nation, atrocities and cruelties against women is common everywhere.

Protection of Women From Sexual Harassment At Workplace

Introduction-
Today’s world is accustomed to the term Sexual harassment. Sexual Harassment can be identified as a behavior. It can in general terms be defined as an unwelcome behavior of sexual nature. Sexual harassment at workplace is a universal problem in the world whether it be a developed nation or a developing nation or an underdeveloped nation, atrocities and cruelties against women is common everywhere. It is a problem giving negative effect on both men and women. It is seen to be happening more with women gender as they are considered to be the most vulnerable section of the society these days. Sexual harassment therefore is a serious problem in the workplace and it has become one of those issues that receive a lot of negative attention. 

What Is Sexual Harassment?

Sexual harassment has been identified as a term which is difficult to define as it involves a range of behaviors. Efforts have been made at both national and international levels to define this term effectively. often, the term is subjected to different interpretations. Some believe that it is better not to mingle with female colleagues so that one does not get embroiled in a sexual harassment complaint. The reality of sexual harassment incidents at the workplace is that there is more to worry about under-reporting, than people misusing the law.

In 1997, in the landmark judgment of Vishaka and others v. State of Rajasthan[1], the Supreme Court of India defined sexual harassment at the workplace, pronounced preventive, prohibitory and redress measures, and gave directives towards a legislative mandate to the guidelines proposed.

Sexual Harassment includes many things:
1. Actual or attempted rape or sexual assault.
2. Unwanted deliberate touching, leaning over, cornering or pinching.
3. Unwanted sexual teasing, jokes, remarks or questions.
4. Whistling at someone.
5. Kissing sounds, howling and smacking lips.
6. Touching an employee’s clothing, hair or body.
7. Touching or rubbing oneself sexually around another person.

Indian Constitution On Sexual Harassment-
Sexual harassment clearly violates the fundamental rights of a women to Equality under Article 14[2] and Article 15[3], her right to life under Article 21[4], and her right to practice any profession and carry on any occupation, trade or business[5], which includes a Right to safe environment free from sexual harassment.

In 2013, substantial changes were made in the way sexual harassment was viewed within the criminal justice system in India. The Criminal Law Amendment Act of 2013, which commenced on April 3, 2013, included Section 354A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 that defined sexual harassment. The India Penal Code, 1860 has also defined the term sexual harassment and related offences and put forth punishments for the same:
· Section 354A- Sexual harassment is: unwelcome physical contact and advances, including unwanted and explicit sexual overtures, a demand or request for sexual favors, showing someone sexual images (pornography) without their consent, and making unwelcome sexual remarks
Punishment: Up to three years in prison, and a fine.

· Section 354B- Forcing a woman to undress.

Punishment: From three to seven years in prison, and a fine.

· Section 354C- Watching or capturing images of a woman without her consent (voyeurism). 
Punishment: First conviction – one to three years in prison and a fine. More than conviction–three to seven years in prison and a fine.

· Section 354D- Following a woman and contacting her or trying to contact her despite her saying she does not want contact. Monitoring a woman using the internet or any other form of electronic communication (stalking).

Punishment: First conviction – up to three years in prison and a fine. More than one conviction–up to five years in prison and a fine.

The same definition is given in the law enacted specifically for Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013.

Pre- Vishaka Scenario-
Before the Vishaka guidelines came into picture, the women had to take matter of Sexual Harassment at Workplace through lodging a complaint under Sec 354 and 509 of IPC.

Sexual Harassment as we know has become a global problem which is a kind of violence against women. International community has recognized in their International treaties and documents, the protection from Sexual Harassment as a human rights of women. All the legal instruments dealing with this matter have been laid down to protect life and liberty and these instruments have been used as a means to curb and address this issue.

In India until the Vishaka’s judgment was given out, there was no law to govern this matter and the guidelines which came as an outcome of this case were derived from the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). TheIndian Constitution had grounded provisions in the form of fundamental rights. 

Vishaka And Others V. State of Rajasthan-
In the case of Vishaka and Ors v. State of Rajasthan and Ors[6], the Hon’ble Supreme Court has laid down guidelines and norms to be observed to prevent sexual harassment of working women.

Preventive Steps-
All employers or persons in charge of work place whether in public or private sector should take appropriate steps to prevent sexual harassment. Without chauvinism to the generality of this obligation they should take the following measures:

a. Express prohibition of sexual harassment at the work place should be notified, published and circulated in appropriate ways.

b. The rules of government and public sector bodies relating to conduct and discipline should include rules prohibiting sexual harassment and provide for adequate and appropriate penalties against the offender.

c. As regards private employers, steps should be taken to include the aforesaid prohibitions in the standing orders under the Industrial Employment (standing orders) Act, 1946.

d. Appropriate work conditions should be provided in respect of work, leisure, health and hygiene to further ensure that there is no hostile environment towards women at work places and no employee woman should have reasonable grounds to believe that she is disadvantaged in connection with her employment.

Criminal Proceedings-
Where such conduct amounts to an offence under the IPC or under any other law, the employer shall initiate appropriate action in accordance with law by making complaint with the appropriate authority. In particular, it should ensure that victims or witnesses are not victimized or discriminated against while dealing with complaints of sexual harassment.

Disciplinary Action-
Where such conduct amounts to misconduct in employment as defined by the relevant service rules, appropriate disciplinary action should be initiated by the employer in accordance with those rules.

Complain Mechanism-
Whether or not such conduct constitutes an offence under law or a breach of the service rules, and appropriate complaint mechanism should be created in the employer’s organization for redress of the complaint made by the victim.

Such complaint mechanism should ensure time bound treatment of complaints.

Internal Complaints Committee-
The complaint mechanism should be adequate to provide a complaints committee, a special counselor or other support service, including the maintenance of confidentiality.

The complaints committee should be headed by a woman and not less than half of its member should be women. Further, to prevent the possibility of any undue pressure or influence from senior levels, such complaints committee should involve a third party, either NGO or other body who is familiar with the issue of sexual harassment.

The complaint committee must make an annual report to the government department concerned of the complaints and action taken by them.
The employers and person in charge will also report on the compliance with the aforesaid guidelines including on the reports of the complaints committee to the government department.

Worker’s Initiative-
Employees should be allowed to raise issues of sexual harassment at a workers’ meeting and in other suitable forum and it should be affirmatively discussed in employer-employee meetings.

Awareness-
Awareness of the rights of female employees in this regard should be created in particular by prominently notifying the guidelines (and appropriate legislation when enacted on the subject) in a suitable manner.

Third Party Harassment-
Where sexual harassment occurs as a result of an act or omission by any third party or outsider, the employer and person in charge will take all steps necessary and reasonable to assist the affected person in terms of support and preventive action.
The central/state governments are requested to consider adopting suitable measures including legislation to ensure that the guidelines laid down by this order are also observed by the employers in private sector.
These guidelines will not prejudice any rights available under the protection of human rights act, 1993.

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