Day: February 12, 2015

By R Lester Makang

UKHRUL, February 11: At a time when the rate of prevalence of Hep C infection cases remains alarmingly high in Ukhrul district, the emergence of growing cases of coinfection of Hep C with HIV has become a greater concern to health workers here.

In an interaction with this IFP correspondent at his office today, nodal officer, ART Centre, Ukhrul District Hospital Dr. Diamond Sharma said that cases of Hep C infection in the district are continuing to be alarming and so are HIV cases but the more worrying aspect is the growing rate at which patients are found infected with both diseases at the same time.

He continued that with the introduction of ART treatment, chance of prolonged survival of HIV patients is much improved today but despite this many such patients have died not due to HIV but because of coinfection with Hep C.

“Which is why we at the ART centre here have come to focus on coinfection of the two diseases which is responsible for the continued cases of death among the patients, ” he disclosed adding that while the accurate data is yet to be worked out, it is believed that the percentage of coinfection among patients might be somewhere in between 35 to 40 in the district.

Expressing apprehension, he maintained that injection drug use remains largely responsible for transmission of the disease in the district or elsewhere.

On being asked about the best way to prevent mass transmission of the viral illness, he advocated that adequate awareness be created among the general public because in the absence of vaccine for Hep C, it is the only available mechanism to protect people from the disease.

He further informed that in view of the alarming situation here, an Ukhrul based NGO DOULOS under the guise of the State Epitimology department and Imphal based CONE, conducted a five-day Hep C screening camp here in October last year where 41 persons tested positive out of a total of 88 screened.

“Even then it is still upto the individual to go treatment of the illness since the cost of treatment is very high and only very few can afford the charge. ”

Dr. Diamond then bemoaned the lack of any initiative from the government side toward containing the cureless viral disease, while also informing that CONE is currently pressing the government for introduction of reimbursement policy for all such patients irrespective of their categories.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/coinfection-of-hiv-and-hep-c-a-graver-concern-to-health-workers-in-ukhrul/

IMPHAL, February 11: Some of the State ministers haven`t slept properly since the schedule for the visits of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister of State for Home, Kiran Rijiju were fixed for February 13 and 14, said State BJP president Th Chaoba.

He was speaking during a BJP mass enrolment drive at the Sora village of Kakching Assembly Constituency in Thoubal today. Speaking as the chief guest, Chaoba said the Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman has inspected the various centrally funded development projects. Just after the inspection visit of the Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and the Minister of State for Home, Kiran Rijiju both have fixed their schedules for visiting Manipur.

There are some reports that some Cabinet ministers of the State are spending sleepless nights as they are having nightmares about what would befall them if their corrupt past records come back to haunt them.

The visits of Union Ministers to the NE states, especially to Manipur, are not simple visits but a means of conducting a thorough inquiry on the developmental works of centrally sponsors schemes under the instruction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the State BJP chief said.

Assuring the people of Sora that no National Sport University would be allowed to be built in the 44-Yaithibi Loukon without any genuine reason and the consent of the local people, he said the Chief Minister or the MLA of Kakching couldn`™t establish a world class Sports University in a polluted area, as it can have an adverse affect on the energetic sportspersons of India.

The random actions of the Chief Minister can`t succeed because the adjacent areas are occupied by hundreds of brickfields which have polluted the area with smoke emitted from their chimneys. If the State government truly intends to establish the university at Yaithibi Loukon then its intention is to kill the budding players with the polluted air, he observed.

During the visit of Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, she asked the concerned minister to take consent from the public while developing any infrastructure in the area, Chaoba said, adding he will apprise Rajnath Singh and Kiran Rijiju during their visits about the controversy surrounding the Sports University, which construction is yet to start due to an ongoing land dispute

Chaoba said the enrolment forms of the BJP taken by the minority Muslims have crossed one lakh and the hills people have also taken more than one lakh forms, The total number of forms which have been issued by the State BJP have approximately reached three lakhs till date, he said, adding the total number of BJP Manipur members would cross four lakhs by the end of March 31 when the nationwide enrolment drive draws to a close.

The State BJP chief said the results of the Delhi general elections have made Congress irrelevant with the party failing to win even a single seat. Instead of regretting about its defeat in the hands of APP, the BJP is happy that the corrupt Congress party has been eradicated from the political scene in Delhi, he maintained.

Now, that the Congress has fizzled out in the National capital, how long the State Congress would be able to stand, he asked, adding the AAP and BJP have similar ideologies of eradicating corruption from the country. He was quick to put that the BJP was still a political force to reckon with in Delhi and hasn`™t lost its potency.

Assuring the people of Sora that if the BJP comes to power in the 2017 general elections in the State that their desire for proper irrigation in their paddy fields will be fulfilled, and potable drinking water will also be provided, he said the 13 years long Congress government led by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi has neglected the people of Sora. Making amends to the people of Sora by fulfilling their demands would be one of the main objectives of Manipur BJP, he promised.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/state-ministers-having-nightmares-about-union-home-ministers-visit-to-state-claims-chaoba/

THOUBAL, Feb 11: A public meeting was held today at Thoubal Kiyam Tangjem in connection with the death of Geetarani organized by the JAC formed in connection with her death.

The meeting was attended by representatives of various civil society and students`™ organizations including UCM, ICHAL, UPF, NUPI Samaj, KWWA, TBL district united women development association, KHUKANPAL, Tami-chingmi Apunba Nupi lup, AMKIL, NIPKO, WiNG, DESAM and KSO etc.

The meeting resolved to submit a memorandum to the Chief Minister with a charter of demands.

The demands include, arrest of Getarani`™s in-laws family members for thorough investigation, submit charge sheet as soon as possible, punish the accused persons immediately and issue one copy of post-mortem report to the Getarani`™s parental side.

The JAC has also given a deadline for the government to take some positive actions in the case on or before February 13 failing which various forms of agitation will be launched, meeting resolved.

It may be mentioned here that 28-year-old Geetarani was found hung to death at her own house at Tosen Tampak under Sugnu PS on February 7 by her husband Telen Ashok Kom, a rifleman of 4th IRB Battalion, at around 6:30 am. She is survived by two children.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/public-meeting-on-geetaranis-death-demands-action-from-govt/

IMPHAL, February 11: The schedule of the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh`™s two-day visit to the State has been officially confirmed. The tour will begin on February 13. In this connection, an advanced security team of the Union Home Minister is likely to arrive today, a highly placed source said.

As per the schedule of the Union Home Minister`™s visit, he will land at the Tulihal Airport at around 12.15 pm on a Special BSF aircraft. After landing at the Airport, he will take off for Moreh directly by a helicopter to inspect the border town.

The source added that he will be there at Moreh till 2.15 pm and will later meet Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh at the Chief Minister`™s official chamber after which he will attend a joint meeting with Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of all the districts in Manipur.

Another meeting with top officials such as the State`™s Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Home), DGP, GOC IG, CRPF, and DIG, BSF to discuss the law and order situation of the State will also be held.

After the meeting with top officials of security forces and bureaucrats of the State, the Home Minister will again hold a meeting with the Chief Minister which will conclude by 6 pm. Then, he will leave for Raj Bhawan to refresh for 20 minutes.

The source further said that he will meet various representatives of state political parties and selected public leaders which have been invited already from 6:30 pm to 7 pm at the Raj Bhawan.

During his visit, he might meet the State BJP unit leaders at the Raj Bhawan or at the Office of BJP Manipur Pradesh and will later have a traditional State dinner.

The source said that during this visit, the Union Minister of State for Home Kiran Rijiju may accompany him but it hasn`™t been confirmed officially. On February 14, the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will leaved Imphal for Delhi at around 9 am by a special BSF aircraft.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/advanced-security-team-ahead-of-union-home-ministers-state-visit-likely-to-arrive-today/