BLUETHON 2024 by Dr Shabnam Bashir

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BLUETHON 2024 by Dr Shabnam Bashir
  • News Kashmir Health Bureau
March is observed as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal cancer is the 3rd most common in men and 2nd most common cancer in women (GLOBOCAN 2020) worldwide & in a study at SKIMS (2014-2016): CRC was most common in age group of 56-65 years (25%) & around 20% were less than 35 years of age & 50% had presented in Stage 3. Colorectal cancers have a huge behavioral component and 90% of colorectal cancers are preventable.
In this backdrop, the 3rd Annual Colorectal Cancer Awareness event of Kashmir  BLUETHON 2024 initiated by Dr Shabnam Bashir , senior Consultant Breast & Colorectal Cancer Surgeries & Executive Committee Member of Association of Colon & Rectal Surgeons of India (North Zone), was organised under the aegis of the Association of Colon & Rectal Surgeons of India (ACRSI) in collaboration with Commissionerate Of Disabilities J&K  and Voluntary Medicare Society on 28th  March 2024 at the Voluntary Medicare Society Rehabilitation Centre, Bemina. This year’s theme was ‘Awareness is Everyone’s Right!’ The event received support from Care Foundation J&K and Kashmir Cancer Awareness Network. The Bluethon included a Cancer awareness talk by Dr Shabnam Bashir, a talk by President founder of J&K Care Foundation Mr Dildar representing people with Spinal cord injury in which he mentioned various issues faced wheelchair -bound people and difficulties in accessing healthcare facilities and treatment.
Past President of, the Association of Colon & Rectal Surgeons of India, Prof. Nisar Chowdari reiterated the importance of such cancer awareness events and Commissioner Disabilities J&K Mr Iqbal Lone Congratulated Dr Shabnam Bashir for the initiative and Voluntary Medicare Society for all the support in such activities & extended his support for such activities in future. The event was also attended by Director Social Welfare Mr Ishfaq Ahmed and the Founder President of Voluntary Medicare Society, Prof Mohd. Maqbool.
After welcoming the guests and participants by VMS staff, the Cancer Awareness talk was delivered by Dr Shabnam Bashir, who discussed prevention of colorectal cancers by lifestyle modification in the context of Kashmir and people with disabilities. She said the technologies and advancements are of no use if they do not reach the most vulnerable and needy segments of society. Hence, policies and pathways need to be created to make it accessible to those who cannot avail those facilities due to various limitations and healthcare facilities need to be made equitable by making the access to those facilities feasible for people who have any kind of disability that restricts them from getting an easy access to the same because awareness, screenings and treatment is everyone’s right.
 The function was concluded by vote of thanks by Dr Bashir Lone Director VMS and by creation of a Human Colon logo by all participants with various disabilities.
Colorectal Cancer Awareness themed caps were distributed by Zydus Oncology and refreshments were served to all participants by Dilshad Houseboats.

AFSPA Revocation, Cover story 1 April 2024

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AFSPA Revocation

News Kashmir Analysis
Peace is paramount for progress of any concerned society.  It is heartening to note that peace and prosperity is limping back in Kashmir after decades of turmoil and terror.
The new look Kashmir is witnessing huge number of tourists and youth of Jammu and Kashmir are bringing national and global laurels.
In a bright development, it is learnt recently that esteemed
Union Home Minister Amit Shah  said that the Centre is planning to revoke the AFSPA Act and pull back some troops from Jammu and Kashmir.
With Lok Sabha elections approaching, Home Minister Amit Shah also said that the government will leave law and order to the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
In an interview  Amit Shah said, “We have plans to pull back troops and leave law and order to the Jammu and Kashmir Police alone.
The AFSPA gives armed forces personnel, operating in disturbed areas “special powers” like arresting individuals they find suspicious, and doing encounters if they deem it necessary for the maintenance of “law and order”.
An area or district is notified as disturbed under the AFSPA to facilitate the operations of the armed forces.
As a matter of fact, December 2023, The Supreme Court directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to hold elections in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30, 2024, as it upheld the government’s 2019 decision to scrap Article 370.
Centre has made it clear that elections in Jammu and Kashmir would be held before September deadline of Supreme Court.
Enshrining democracy in Jammu and Kashmir is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s promise and it will be fulfilled. However, this democracy will not be confined to three families alone and will be a people’s democracy,”  Union Home Minister Amit Shah said.
Expert pulse suggests that AFSPA removal in Jammu and Kashmir suggests peace is heralding in a major manner and the progress would be further cemented on grassroots.
Other developmental are also heralding
OBC reservations have been made in the panchayats and the urban local bodies. We have made space for the SCs and the STs. Without reducing the share of the Gujjar and Bakarwals, the Pahadis have been given 10 per cent reservation. And special provisions have been made to accommodate the displaced people from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. (PoK).. The Centre is determined to ensure that these benefits percolate to the grassroots level,” HM Amit Shah said.
It is great thing to note that
Since the Abrogation of Article 370, militancy related incidents have declined in the J&K, paving the way for the Centre to consider the need to remove AFSPA in the region.

World Autism Day, Editorial 1 April, 2024.

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World Autism Day
Autism – also referred to as autism spectrum disorder ̶ constitutes a diverse group of conditions related to development of the brain.
About 1 in 100 children has autism.
Characteristics may be detected in early childhood, but autism is often not diagnosed until much later.
The abilities and needs of autistic people vary and can evolve over time. While some people with autism can live independently, others have severe disabilities and require life-long care and support.
World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD), on April 2nd each year shines a bright light on a growing global health crisis.
As children with autism grow older, they face all sorts of obstacles. Because many don’t speak or use social cues as you or if do, they become targets for bullies or are excluded altogether. Children with autism are also vulnerable to drowning because they wander from their homes and schools. Due to their inability to communicate, they cannot tell someone their name or where they live, either. Additionally, adults are more likely to be unemployed or underemployed.
Autism transcends cultural, ethnic, racial, and gender boundaries, affecting individuals from all walks of life. Despite the prevalence of autism, there remains a significant lack of understanding and acceptance in many communities. World Autism Awareness Day serves as an opportunity to address misconceptions and promote inclusion.
We too in Kashmir need to take steps so as to provide our children answers to their autism woes.
Available scientific evidence suggests that there are probably many factors that make a child more likely to have autism, including environmental and genetic factors.
Extensive research using a variety of different methods and conducted over many years has demonstrated that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine does not cause autism.