Showing papers by "Government of India published in 1994"

Government response to HIV/AIDS in India.

Abstract: There are many AIDS cases and people infected with HIV in India. While the government responded to the AIDS pandemic faster than it has to any other disease or health issue including family planning the response was slower than ideal. There are many related problems in India which are changing only gradually. Despite the widespread nature of HIV infection in India much can still be done to reduce the impact of the epidemic upon the population. India must sensitize its politicians to the serious nature of the problem and develop nongovernmental organizations which can become involved. Politicians can then effectively mobilize the health sector. While governments are expected to enable its people to understand how to avoid the risk of HIV transmission thereby reducing the chance of infection it is clear that the government of India cannot by itself control HIV through legislation or programs. The authors also note that the central and state governments have been hampered in their efforts by existing public health problems and the lack of reliable information to apply to intervention programs for change. Accurate and reliable epidemiological data are needed. The authors describe the existing health status and infrastructure of the nation outline the initial response to the AIDS pandemic and discuss some specific intervention projects legislative aspects of HIV infection and the financial details of AIDS control activity in India.

HIV infection control in health care settings.

Abstract: If health care workers abide by universal precautions when dealing with blood and body fluids the risk of HIV transmission from infected patients to health care workers is minimal. Few health care workers have become infected with HIV via needle stick injuries or exposure to mucous membranes. HIV-1 and HIV-2 are inactivated by heating at 60 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes by disinfectants such as 70% alcohol for 2 minutes and by high doses of ultraviolet irradiation. HIV reservoirs are blood semen vaginal secretions breast milk epithelial cells cerebrospinal fluid organs and tissues. Health care workers should concentrate on preventing needle stick injuries and injuries due to sharp instruments. Health care workers should immediately and thoroughly wash hands and other parts of the body exposed to blood and body fluids with soap and water. They should also wash hands after removing protective gloves and in between handling of patients. They should wear gloves for all direct contact with blood and body fluids and during cleaning and decontaminating procedures. A face shield or mask eye glasses and waterproof gowns should be worn during all procedures where splashing of blood may occur. No one should perform mouth pipetting of blood or other body fluids. Health workers should reduce the number of unnecessary injections. They should use single-use syringes and needles and discard of them in puncture-proof containers. If single-use equipment is not available all equipment needs to be autoclaved before reuse. If a wound occurs due to injury from contaminated equipment bleeding should be encouraged. The health care worker must also wash it with soap and much water. Health care workers should immerse vaginal speculums proctoscopes nasal speculums and instruments used for laryngeal and tracheal exams in a suitable disinfectant (e.g. embalming fluid) for at least 20 minutes.

Indian Urbanization: Proliferation of Mega Cities and Urban Corridors

Abstract: A high degree of urbanization exists in India today This is due to the colonial base and subsequent haphazard growth after independence which gave birth to a peculiar disorder of urban spaces and development Peopling of growing urban areas could not be planned; rather, all new developments which occurred were merely aligned to the old systems In trying to understand India’s overall urbanization system, one may note that there is a total of 300 towns and urban agglomerations with over 100,000 people China is the only other Asian nation to have more such cities All other Asian countries, although having acute urban problems, have a considerably lower number of urban centers with this many people