AS this Navratri season ends, life is set to begin on a happy note for over 300 HIV-positive people from across the State. For a “swayamvar” of HIV positive couples will be held on October 1, where candidates can interact and choose their life partners. Of the over 300 HIV positive people from all over Gujarat who have filled applications for marriage with the NGO, Network of Surat People Living with HIV AIDS (NSP+), more than 40 entries have come from Surat, informed the project officer of NSP+, Harsh Chauhan.
For the past two years, the NGO has been organising garba during Navratri where HIV-positive people take part and spread awareness about it. Chauhan informed that every year an additional 25 per cent people attend the garba and over 14 marriages between HIV-positive people have already been solemnised. ‘‘Moreover, the concept of Swayamvar has never happened before in India,” he says.
Hena Patel, centre counsellor, and Jagdish Patel were the first HIV-positive couple to get married two years ago, following which they set up a marriage bureau in 2004, and now the idea of Swayamvar, informed Chauhan. He said that on October 1, though no marriages will be solemnised, HIV-positive people will meet each other and get married according to their customs and with family consent.
One such case is that of Rani Patel, working under the fellowship of Action Aid based in Ahmedabad and Umesh Patel, state coordinator working for Gujarat, Rajasthan and Goa. ‘‘I learnt I was HIV-positive after my first husband died. He had never tested for HIV AIDS and his family never knew the cause of his death. Later, when they came to know, they told me to leave home as I was living in a joint family and they feared I would transmit the disease to the children of the family. But I too had a child, who was not HIV positive, and therefore I filed a case against my in-laws. They gave me a one-room flat for accommodation,” said Rani. Rani said she decided to stand on her own feet and began to work as a researcher in a project when she met Umesh.
Chauhan informed that while there are more than 900 people who are HIV positive who are registered with NSP, in total there are more than 22,000-25,000 people affected with AIDS in Surat. However, the problem is they prefer kept their affliction a secret and take counselling from private doctors. According to Chauhan, programmes like garba and the Swayamvar provide them such HIV-positive people a chance to bond with each other and make them stronger. ‘‘We have kept stalls where HIV-positive people will distribute pamphlets and create more awareness about AIDS,” said Chauhan.
Source: Expressindia.com
Why Navratri will end on +ve note for them
September 29, 2006, 10:04 amIndia to be partner at Berlin Tourism Fair
September 28, 2006, 11:46 am
India would be the partner country at the Berlin Tourism Fair-2007, the biggest tourism and travel trade show in the world. This initiative is expected to greatly enhance India’s profile as a world-class tourist destination. An agreement to this effect was signed between Union tourism ministry and Messe Germany, the organisers of Berlin Tourism Fair, called ITB Berlin, in the presence of Union tourism secretary A.K. Mishra on World Tourism Day on Wednesday.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Mishra said that ITB Berlin, being held from March 7-11, 2007, would provide an ideal platform for showcasing India’s unique tourism products and promoting India as a preferred tourist destination. As the partner country, India would be the focus of five to six million people for one week and reach out to large audience from across the globe that would include travel industry representatives, decision makers, international press, and most importantly, the potential tourists themselves, he stated.
"This would go a long way in keeping up the momentum, as can be gauged from the fact that during the last two years, foreign tourist traffic has registered an increase of 45.5 per cent and earnings have registered a growth of 62.2 per cent in dollar terms. Further, 15 important tourist destinations would be taken up for substantial upgradation of infrastructure and facilities. In addition, we are trying to promote niche products like rural tourism, agri tourism, medical tourism, culture tourism, Himalayan tourism, tea tourism and the Buddhist circuit," Mr Mishra said.
To mark the occasion, Mr Mishra inaugurated an exhibition of award-winning entries of the various contests organised by the Union tourism ministry, as part of the World Tourism Day celebrations. As partner country at the ITB Berlin-2007, India would be presented by the organisers in all ITB advertising and at all press conferences and trade shows where ITB is promoted.
India would have exclusive rights to conceptualise and organise the opening ceremony of ITB 2007. Other publicity opportunities available to India as a partner country would include advertising at select spots/venues in and around the fair ground at Berlin.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Mishra said that ITB Berlin, being held from March 7-11, 2007, would provide an ideal platform for showcasing India’s unique tourism products and promoting India as a preferred tourist destination. As the partner country, India would be the focus of five to six million people for one week and reach out to large audience from across the globe that would include travel industry representatives, decision makers, international press, and most importantly, the potential tourists themselves, he stated.
"This would go a long way in keeping up the momentum, as can be gauged from the fact that during the last two years, foreign tourist traffic has registered an increase of 45.5 per cent and earnings have registered a growth of 62.2 per cent in dollar terms. Further, 15 important tourist destinations would be taken up for substantial upgradation of infrastructure and facilities. In addition, we are trying to promote niche products like rural tourism, agri tourism, medical tourism, culture tourism, Himalayan tourism, tea tourism and the Buddhist circuit," Mr Mishra said.
To mark the occasion, Mr Mishra inaugurated an exhibition of award-winning entries of the various contests organised by the Union tourism ministry, as part of the World Tourism Day celebrations. As partner country at the ITB Berlin-2007, India would be presented by the organisers in all ITB advertising and at all press conferences and trade shows where ITB is promoted.
India would have exclusive rights to conceptualise and organise the opening ceremony of ITB 2007. Other publicity opportunities available to India as a partner country would include advertising at select spots/venues in and around the fair ground at Berlin.
Dr Reddy’s will develop cancer drug with ClinTec
September 28, 2006, 11:45 am
In a deal that is seen as part of its continuing strategy to de-risk pharma R&D, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories said on Wednesday it has entered into an agreement with the United Kingdom-based ClinTec International for the joint development of an anti-cancer compound, codenamed DRF 1042, for potential treatment of various types of cancer.
Dr Reddy’s has completed Phase I clinical trials for DRF 1042 in India. Under the agreement, Dr Reddy’s and ClinTec International will co-develop DRF 1042, undertaking Phase II and Phase III clinical trials, with the aim of securing USFDA and EMEA approvals. The financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed. According to a Dr Reddy’s statement, the company retains the commercialization rights for the US and rest of the world markets (excluding ClinTec International territories). ClinTec International will be granted the commercialisation rights for most of Europe including major European markets.
On commercialisation of the product, Dr Reddy’s will receive royalty on sales by ClinTec International in its designated territories and ClinTec International will receive royalty on sales by Dr. Reddy’s in the US. The financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed. "ClinTec International brings to this partnership their vast experience and in-depth expertise in the anti-cancer clinical development space," Mr G.V. Prasad, CEO of Dr Reddy’s, was quoted as saying. The ClinTech deal follows a similar arrangement reached by Dr Reddy’s with Rhescience A/S, an independent research company in Denmark, in September last year. The two companies will jointly develop and commercialise of balaglitazone (DRF 2593) for the treatment of Type II diabetes.
Dr Reddy’s has completed Phase I clinical trials for DRF 1042 in India. Under the agreement, Dr Reddy’s and ClinTec International will co-develop DRF 1042, undertaking Phase II and Phase III clinical trials, with the aim of securing USFDA and EMEA approvals. The financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed. According to a Dr Reddy’s statement, the company retains the commercialization rights for the US and rest of the world markets (excluding ClinTec International territories). ClinTec International will be granted the commercialisation rights for most of Europe including major European markets.
On commercialisation of the product, Dr Reddy’s will receive royalty on sales by ClinTec International in its designated territories and ClinTec International will receive royalty on sales by Dr. Reddy’s in the US. The financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed. "ClinTec International brings to this partnership their vast experience and in-depth expertise in the anti-cancer clinical development space," Mr G.V. Prasad, CEO of Dr Reddy’s, was quoted as saying. The ClinTech deal follows a similar arrangement reached by Dr Reddy’s with Rhescience A/S, an independent research company in Denmark, in September last year. The two companies will jointly develop and commercialise of balaglitazone (DRF 2593) for the treatment of Type II diabetes.
