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The Hindu
4 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
House of Muthulakshmi Reddy, India's first woman medicine graduate, in a dilapidated state
Sitting among large tamarind trees and mounds of clay is a run down building on Besant Avenue in Adyar in which Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy, the first woman from India to graduate in medicine and the force behind the founding of the Cancer Institute (W.I.A.) Adyar, lived for over 30 years form 1936. The land on which it sits belongs to the Tiruvannamalai Sri Arunachaleswarar temple. The land had no compound wall or security for such a large place, and when this reporter visited the place, someone was plucking tamarind from a tree. 'Water stagnates during rain and the place is infested with insects and snakes. There have been incidents of men hiding among the trees. It should be cleaned and steps should be taken to provide some lighting,' said Ananth, a local resident. V. R. Devika, who has written a book on Dr. Reddy, said the doctor was the first woman legislator in British India. She took land from the Arunachaleswarar temple on lease to build the Avvai Home and another piece of land adjacent to it from the temple to build a home for her family. So many girls who studied in the home have gone into become nurses and teachers. 'In 1942, when some soldiers who had camped near the Adyar River tried to harass the girls, she stood vigil with a big stick in her hand. She then went to the local British commandant and told him she will hold him responsible if something happens to the girls. The house urgently needs repairs and maintenance,' she said. Senior advocate N.L. Rajah explained that Justice M. Dhandapani 'was kind enough to grant the prayer of the Avvai Home for Girls and the Cancer Institute (W.I.A.), Adyar' to maintain the house in which Dr. Reddy resided on land belonging to the temple and has already been handed over to them. The works will be taken up using funds from the Institute. Temple and heritage enthusiast Padmapriya Baskaran said that the house could be restored into a memorial as a testimony for Dr. Reddy's service to girls and women. It is August, and with Madras Day nearing, it would be great if the restoration is taken up soon, she added. Sources in the Avvai Home and Institute said they were ready to take up the renovation of the building. 'We need access to the structure. We have written to the temple authorities seeking permission. Once that is obtained, we can go ahead with the work. We would like to put the building to good use. Maybe have a free dispensary, a library, or provide some kind of training for women.' Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments P.K. Sekarbabu assured that he would inspect the site soon. 'The government headed by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has taken steps to safeguard lakhs of acres of lands belonging to temples. This land will be put to proper use,' he said.
Irish Times
25-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
‘They saved my life': Trinity St James's Cancer Institute is recognised for care, research and education
Dubliner Niamh Walsh was working as a cook in a creche in April last year when she noticed her left leg was about 4cm wider than her right one. She had no other symptoms and when her GP referred her to the city's St James's Hospital she did not think anything was wrong. Following an ultrasound, she was told she had a mass of around 28cm in her pelvic area. Ms Walsh was diagnosed with ependymoma of the ovary – an extremely rare type of ovarian tumour. READ MORE She underwent an eight-hour open surgery, chemotherapy and, 11 weeks ago, had a preventive hysterectomy, in which her uterus was removed to reduce the chance of the cancer returning. 'I'm an only child, so this was a really big time for my parents being told out of the blue last year that their daughter has a really rare form of cancer that requires extreme operations and chemo after,' Ms Walsh (30) said. The diagnosis was a shock to her, too, she said. She is now trying to process everything she's been through over the past year. 'Still to this day, I cry about it,' she says. 'If I hadn't had that hysterectomy I could have heard it was back in the other ovary. I'm a very anxious person and the last thing I wanted was to be told the cancer was back.' On Wednesday, the Trinity St James's Cancer Institute (TSJCI) announced it has become the first cancer unit in Ireland to be accredited as a comprehensive cancer centre – a specialised institution recognised for advanced research and a broad range of cancer services. The Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) decided the Dublin base met or exceeded robust standards in cancer care, research and education. Prof Maeve Lowery, academic director of the TSJCI, said this designation would allow the hospital to bring improvements in patient-centred care. 'This carries an international weight. So it's about international benchmarking recognised across Europe and the US that shows certain standards of integration of academic activities like research, education, with clinical care. The real goal of it is to achieve more treatment options, better treatment options for patients,' she said. Prof Lowery said the hope was this designation would provide greater access for patients to novel treatments and clinical trials, an area in which Ireland had traditionally been viewed as lagging behind. 'It's the big issue within Ireland at the moment, there's a lot of disparity. The patients we treat here – we're a public hospital – and our patients are among the lowest socio-economic in the country. So it's really important that in the public system we're providing the best we can in terms of novel treatment,' she said. Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said the announcement marks a 'significant advancement' in cancer care for Ireland. 'Comprehensive cancer centres like TSJCI bring an additional focus on research and training which can expand the treatment options available for patients now and into the future,' she said. This is particularly true for patients such as Ms Walsh, who have rarer forms of cancer and for whom the diagnosis can feel devastating. If it were not for the kindness from the team of clinicians who treated her, Ms Walsh said she 'wouldn't have gotten through it'. 'My type of cancer, if I hadn't have had that operation when I did, it would have spread. This hospital saved my life,' she said. 'After this whole thing, I'm seeing a different side to myself. I used to be a very shy person, but now I'm trying to get out there. I'm trying to just enjoy life, because you've got to enjoy it while we can.'
The Hindu
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Tackling emerging threats to tobacco control
Tobacco control continues to remain a significant a public health challenge. Adding to the existing hurdles are new and emerging threats that are challenging conventional regulatory approaches. Experts say there are growing concerns over the increased and easy access to tobacco products, especially among the young. The digital space is one of the biggest concerns for doctors and activists who have been working in tobacco control for several years, as early initiation means longer and lasting impacts on one's health. There is an urgent need for better strategies to address these emerging threats, they say. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 37 million children aged 13 to 15 years worldwide use tobacco. Tobacco use has to be prevented among the youth, stresses Surendran Veeraiah, professor and head, Psycho-oncology and Resource Centre for Tobacco Control, Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai. 'Initiation happens due to reasons such as curiosity and peer pressure. Policy-makers have to focus on these areas to safeguard the youth from industry tactics. The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) clearly prohibits the sale of tobacco to persons under the age of 18 and within 100 yards of educational institutions. The law is there but implementation is still a challenge,' he said. Warnings on big and small screens While scenes in movies and television programmes mandatorily carry an anti-tobacco warning, newer challenges have emerged, he said, adding: 'The anti-tobacco health warnings are mandated on the silver screen. But now, we have come across videos of smoking on social media sites with zero warnings. How are these emerging challenges going to be addressed, especially considering the reach that social media has among the young?' S. Cyril Alexander, State convenor, Tamil Nadu Peoples' Forum for Tobacco Control added that though it was mandatory for OTT streaming platforms to display anti-tobacco warnings, not all platforms were implementing the 2023 notification. 'Some OTT platforms have implemented the rule, while others have not. We have been closely following the issue and are continuously raising it with the authorities as these platforms are reaching several children,' he said. Digital challenges This is not all. Newer challenges have emerged in the past few years. 'Consumers and products have become advanced but the enforcement is unable to keep pace. So, we are in reverse gear. Now, marketing of tobacco products is happening in the digital space, on social media and on WhatsApp,' said Mr. Alexander. He added that tobacco products including e-cigarettes are ordered online and directly delivered to the customers. 'For instance, once we register on the product website, details are sought on Whatsapp. Once the online payment is made, the product is delivered directly to the customer. With more online platforms in play, accessibility to tobacco products has been easier,' he said. Mr. Alexander added that his organisation has been studying digital marketing applications and have also lodged complaints. 'Tamil Nadu is the only State with a valid Section 5 of COTPA (Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act) committee to take action against direct and indirect advertising but the committee is not functional. We need to go forward and ensure proper enforcement along with strengthening online surveillance. We cannot continue to use conventional methods of monitoring,' he said. Dr. Veeraiah said that tobacco use is directly linked in one way or other to multiple non-communicable diseases such as cancers, diabetes, hypertension and cardiac ailments. Not to forget lung diseases caused by tobacco use. 'Smoking can affect the digestive system too. It can cause bowel changes and can also affect the skin and eyes. The younger the age of initiation, the more will be the problems as they grow,' he said. A public health official said that a multi-pronged strategy was required for tobacco control. 'There needs to be a high level of awareness. Restriction of sales is crucial as we are facing the problem of use of tobacco products among school students. We also need to look at the commercial aspect and monitor the advertisement of tobacco and increase the warning labels on the packets,' he said.
The Hindu
10-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Doctors raise the importance of HPV vaccination to prevent cervical and a few other cancers
Vaccinating girls aged nine to 14 years against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is crucial for prevention of cervical cancers and a few other cancers. But equally important is vaccinating boys against HPV for a number of reasons, according to doctors. There are three reasons why boys should also be vaccinated against HPV, Jayashree N., gynaecologic oncologist and associate professor, Cancer Institute (WIA), said. 'First, it can cause cancers in men too. Secondly, they could transmit the virus to women, and thirdly, there is no screening test for men.' Somu Sivabalan, consultant Paediatrician and Pulmonologist, Rainbow Children's Hospital, explained that HPV being a sexually transmitted infection, it could spread from men. It could cause genital warts and precancerous changes. 'The primary target for HPV vaccination are girls aged nine to 14. Boys of the same age group are the secondary target for the vaccination,' he said. The doctors, who spoke at 'Conquer HPV and Cancer Conclave 2025', stressed that HPV was not limited to cervical cancer alone. It was associated with cancers of the vulva, vagina, anus in women and cancers of the penis, anus and oropharynx in men. The conclave was organised in Chennai on Tuesday as a part of a nationwide public health initiative led by Serum Institute of India. Dr. Jayashree said that vaccination and screening are the two pillars to prevent cervical cancers. Countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United States of America as well as European countries had an HPV vaccination programme as a result of which the incidence of cervical cancers has reduced, she said. Discussing the safety of the vaccine, Dr. Jayashree noted that Cancer Institute had administered 3,500 doses of the vaccine so far, and there had been no side effects. B. Sarath Balaji, senior Paediatric Pulmonologist and associate professor, Institute of Child Health, said that except for mild pain, redness in the site and mild fever, there had been no major side effects. He added that there was greater awareness among parents in cities about the vaccine. S. Vijaya, head of department and professor, ESIC Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, stressed the importance of taking time to counsel parents about the importance of the vaccine. Members of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India were involved in creating awareness and training for doctors. Kavitha Sukumar, associate professor, Surgical Oncology, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, said screening for cervical cancer is simple. 'We have HPV DNA testing and pap smear. Now, self testing kits are also available,' she said.
India Gazette
07-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Uttarakhand CM Dhami inaugurates, lays foundation stone of 27 projects in Nainital worth Rs 126 crore 69 lakhs
Nainital (Uttarakhand) [India], June 7 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of 27 development projects of Nainital district worth about 126 crore 69 lakhs in a program organised at Lalkuan, Nainital on Saturday. These projects include schemes related to education, road, medical, irrigation, sewerage, urban development, beautification and destitute cow protection. During this, 9 schemes were inaugurated at a cost of 25.93 crores and foundation stone were laid for 18 schemes at a cost of 100.76 crores. The Chief Minister said in his address that these projects will strengthen the infrastructure of the area and provide better facilities to the citizens. Appreciating the nationwide development work being done under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said that India is becoming a leader in every field including defence, science, sports and infrastructure today. He mentioned the changing power and resolve of the country, referring to 'Operation Sindoor', the abolition of Article 370 and the construction of a rail bridge in Kashmir. The Chief Minister said that in order to make Nainital district an ideal district, projects like Mental Hospital, Cancer Institute, Ayush Hospital, Open Gym, Ambedkar Park, Ring Road, Bypass Road, Astro Park, Pollinator Park and Sports University are being implemented rapidly. Waste Management and Sewerage Management schemes have been started to make Haldwani a clean and green city, while multi-storey parking is being constructed to overcome the problem of jam. Efforts like the Jamrani Multipurpose Dam Project and Industrial Smart City in Khurpiya will give long-term benefits to the Terai region. The Chief Minister said that the state government is fully committed not only to development but also to protect cultural identity and social harmony. Strict steps have been taken against conversion, love jihad, land jihad etc. Uttarakhand is the first state in the country to implement Uniform Civil Code and the country's strictest anti-copying law has also been implemented here. Concrete efforts are being made under the 'Gau Sanrakshan Kanoon' for the protection of cows. The Chief Minister said that the state government has adopted a policy of 'zero tolerance' against corruption, and more than 200 corrupt people have been sent to jail in the last three years. He appealed to the public that all citizens will have to participate in the development journey to make Uttarakhand the leading state of the country. Reconstruction of 11 damaged canals in Okhalkanda, District Ayurvedic Bhawan in Bhimtal, Malla Sufi-Rusani-Digad-Kafuwa Lodhia Motor Road in Ramgarh, Malli Sethi Lift Irrigation Scheme in Betalghat, Construction of vehicle parking and OT for animals in Veterinary Hospital in Haldwani, Veterinary Hospital Building in Kaladhungi, Construction of Gaushala (Phase-1) in Gangapur Kabdwal, Government Polytechnic Building in Ramnagar and Renovation of Rehabilitation Centre in Pandey Navad Haldwani. Flood protection work in Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, construction of damaged canals in Fatehpur, Kamaluwaganja, Gunipur, Paniyali and Bachhinagar, Polytechnic building in Kotabagh, construction of tube well in Rampur Chakluwa, development of Kainchidham complex, repair of tourist accommodation house in Bhawali, construction of tourism office building in Nainital, reconstruction and improvement of rural motor roads, development of Jhidapani waterfall, construction of tube wells at various places, Rajpura and Parvatiya Mohalla sewerage schemes in Haldwani, construction of cowshed (phase-2) in Lalkuan and renovation work of library in Government Girl's Inter College Haldwani. (ANI)
