Need of New drugs for TB

You see that white fuzzy object in the centre  Well, it consists of thousands of stars. Among these some are bigger than our sun and some are smaller. And there are many which can’t be seen by our naked eyes. Our solar system is made of sun at the centre with eight other planets revolving around it. And in the whole universe we know the only planet which has life  – Earth! The living planet! Earth has life in many forms. Plants, trees, birds, animals live together interdependent on each other. Few feed on plants. Few animals feed on other animals.

Not to forget micro-organisms  Life on earth started with it! So life on earth is pretty complex. But in all of these, human species stood aside of other living things. With its own intelligence man is the leader on this planet. Even though no species on the earth feeds chiefly on human flesh, there are many reasons which are catastrophic to man.

There is no way to say that intelligent Man is immortal and there are many ways in which human’s life comes to demise. TB is among the catastrophic diseases.

Tuberculosis, its symptoms and drug used

Tuberculosis has been present in humans since antiquity.  mycobacteria cause serious diseases in mammals. TB is one of them and is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB is contagious and airborne. Dr. Sawant who gave some information about it to me said, “It mainly affects lungs. If bacteria are detected in sputum it is categorized in category1. In some cases i.e. in category2 it also affects Pleura and intestine. These bacteria enter in body through air.” Infected person coughs and micro-organisms in droplets travel through air and if other person breathes in that air, he gets infected, said Dr. Sawant. On asking about why TB is called as disease of poverty he said, “Body resistance of poor people is not so good because of lack of nutrition”. What I think – may be the standard of living also major factor in spreading TB.

Various combinations of medicine – ethombutol, pyarazinamide rifampicin are given to patients according to his health condition. It takes around 6 months to recover from TB in some cases more than that.

Since 1995, 46 million people have been successfully treated and up to 6.8 million lives saved through DOTS and the WHO’s Stop TB Program.

India’s Revised National TB Control Program has made efforts for systematically engaging all care providers through a public-private mix DOTS and has developed guidelines for the involvement of NGOs.

Still the purpose is not served.

 Mortality

TB is lethal disease. The number of people who died from TB fell to 1.4 millionin 2010, including three fifty thousand people with HIV, which means around 4 thousand deaths every day.

Being the largest country in Asia, India is the highest TB-burden country in the world and has contributed 25 percent of the estimated global TB cases in 2010.

There is need to take a note of important point – There is significant number of people who leave treatment without completing it.

Need of New Drugs

Multudrug resistance (MDR) TB and extreme drug resistance (XDR) TB are big problems in getting rid of this disease. Science Magazine reports why TB is hard to cure. Recently Down to Earth Magazine reported improved cure for TB.

So there is need of new drugs which would be very effective in short period of time. It should also be affordable as funds shown by WHO in this factsheet are so high.

Tb is more prone to poor people in developing nations, elevating the standard of living would help in solving problem.

We, humankind are blessed by nature/evolution to be the leader on this planet; it’s our moral responsibility towards society to leave no man behind. We have to be obliged to take every section of society with us to prosperity.

Vigyan Prasar and OSDD are organizing Youtube video competition on on “The Need of New Drugs for TB”. Last date of submission has been extended to 30th November 2012

My entry in competition is coming soon!

P.S.

Video by me and Aaditya Patil  on Youtube is live now.

Pune Science Film Festival

Pune is always happening place. This time it is again something different.

First Pune Science Film Festival took place at National film archive of India (NFAI) in association with Vishwa Scientific (VS), Vigyan Prasar (VP) and Khagol Vishwa (KV). During the three days of event, there were screening of films, presentations by scientists and Docudrama films.

Behind the Scene:

Pune Science Film Festival

Year 2012 is Tapapurti (completing 12 years) year of Khagol Vishwa. KV is group of amateur astronomers. It works in Astronomy outreach and has organized many public programs over the years like arranging Star Parties and Science Congress at Pimpri-Chinchwad. KV and VS two sister organizations decided to host Pune Science Festival. This festival initially had three parts exhibitions of research projects of 15 research institutes in Pune, interactions with eminent scientists and screening of science popularizing films. Experiencing the potential and depth each of these parts, it was decided to organize each part as independent events.

Speaking about the first-ever such festival, co-coordinator of the festival, Mayuresh Prabhune said, “The film medium is the most attractive and effective to reach out to the masses. The graphics and visuals are easier to connect and help to understand the subject better.”  Prabhune said that though the films this year have been contributed by research centres and amateurs only, the festival will inspire more contributions from next year.

Day 1:

Prof. Deshmukh, Prashat Pathrabe, Dr. Bhatkar and Dr. Natu

Professor A.L. Deshmukh, president of Khagol Vishwa explained the importance of science films and bringing eminent scientists in front public for direct interaction.

Dr. Vijay Bhatkar senior computer scientist who inaugurated festival, said “ For the first time science film festival is organised other than by Indian science congress and it is like public private partnership program. Make films on scientist in India show what and how they changed the world. There is need of making films in regional languages and also using high-tech faculties such as IPTV. Tomorrow’s directors, scientists would be coming from these audience.”

Dr. Ranade told role of Vigyan Prasar in popularizing the science all over India. He said “After the invention of films making, in just a decade of time technology was introduced in India. Comparing this delay with other technologies, surely it was not that late. But still even today we are lagging in using it for science popularization”

As 2012 is year of mathematics, film festival began with the screening of a film on the life of eminent mathematician Shriniwas Ramanujan titled — the ‘Enigma of S Ramanujan’. Mr. Nandan Khudyadi, alumnus of FTII and filmmaker this film talked about his experiences while shooting. Also he was very impressed by response to festival. About the film he said “Film was made 25 years back for National council for science and technology communication. I went to TIFR for gathering research material. Film was shot at Ramanujan’s home and his school.”

There was talk by Dr. Arvind Natu from IISER Pune on Nature Inspired Technology.

Next film screened was award winning film at 99^th Indian science congress (ISC). Home – our garden of eden.

There was interactive session with Dr. Medha Khole, deputy director of IMD. She talked about – Extreme weather phenomena.

Last film of the day was Electron ki Khoj produced by Vigyan Prasar.

Day 2:

Day started with film – Force of Nature. Documentary portrait of environmentalist David Suzuki, produced by Director Sturla Gunnerson.

Next was X-ray ki khoj film produced by Vigyan Prsar was screened.

Special jury award winning film at ISC – The Dream Fulfilled was screened based on the challenges faced by DMRC during construction metro rail in National Capitol region of India.

Another film made by Mr. Nandan Khudiyadi – C. V. Raman got appreciation by audience.

In afternoon session Mr. Mayureh Prabhune, coordinator of festival presented project of Vishwa Scietific – Project Meghdoot which is researching the monsoon on different levels. This project is exploring the Social effects of monsoon  and traditional knowledge of monsoon in different communities all over India.

There were other films screened like The Darwin Puzzle and astronomical film – The Cosmic Collision.

Last film of second day was produced by Khagol Vishwa on Lonar creator featuring degradation of unique ecosystem in the salt water lake in meteorite impact crator.

Day 3:

First film of the 3rd day was documentary film on Hubble space telescope produced by ESA. Arvind Paranjpye, Director of Nehru Planetarium Mumbai talked after film answering questions of audience right from astronomy to science in schools.

Film on biography of J. C. Bose produced by Vigyan Prasar was followed by the interactive session conducted by Ashok Khutwad of IMD – “Amazing Antarctica”. He spent almost a year on south pole for research.

Pune Science Film Festival finished with astronomical film – Journey to the stars.

During closing ceremony Ashok Khutwad promised to arranged film making workshop in summer vacation for students. Dr. Arving Ranade of Vigyan Prasar announced that VP along with Vishwa Scientic will host such science film festival in every district in Maharashtra. He also encouraged students to take part in next film festival organised by Indian science congress.

Executive Committee of festival. Photograph by Mayuresh Konnur