Hinduja and his wife Kamal, along with their son Ajay and his wife Namrata, were cleared by a Swiss criminal court of more serious charges of human trafficking linked to their servants…reports Asian Lite News
The Conservative Party received a £50,000 donation from a firm linked to convicted billionaire businessman Prakash Hinduja, new figures show.
The Electoral Commission has revealed the Tories gained £225,587 from private donors in the last week of the general election campaign, bringing their total to £1.8m.
But the biggest single donation came from a firm called Westminster Development Services. According to Companies House, the property consortium is up to 50% owned by AMC Project Services Limited, which lists Hinduja as its owner. He was sentenced to jail last month in Switzerland, along with three of his family members, for exploiting domestic workers at their mansion in Geneva.
However, Hinduja and his wife Kamal, along with their son Ajay and his wife Namrata, were cleared by a Swiss criminal court of more serious charges of human trafficking linked to their servants.
The four family members were sentenced to between four and four-and-a-half years in prison, but their lawyers said they planned to appeal against the decision. A Conservative Party spokesperson said: “Donations to the Conservative Party are properly and transparently declared to the Electoral Commission, openly published by them, and comply fully with the law.”
Elsewhere in the figures, the commission revealed Labour received more than double the donations of the Tories during the last week of the campaign between 27 June and 4 July.The party racked up £465,600 in those final days, and its entire campaign figure dwarfed its rivals, ending at £9.5m.
The largest donor to Labour in the last week was former professional poker player Derek Web, who gave the party £250,000, followed by both the GMB and Fire Brigades Union, which donated £100,000 each. The Liberal Democrats also received £156,203 as the campaign drew to a close, with £100,000 coming from food business GADF Holdings, while Reform UK clocked up £45,000, with £25,000 donated by businessman Philip Hulme.
Election rules mean registered political parties have to submit four weekly reports setting out donations and loans they receive above £11,180.
India shows its dedication to promoting the stability and prosperity of Afghanistan by widening the channels for aid distribution, as per Khaama Press…reports Asian Lite News
As Afghanistan continues to grapple with the extreme food crises, India has donated 10,000 metric tonnes of wheat to the landlocked country.
The 10,000 metric tonnes of wheat reached the Herat city of Afghanistan on Tuesday, United Nations World for Food Programme (UNWFP) said in a tweet. “Wheat donated by the Government of #India @MEAIndia @dpa_meato @WFP arrived in Herat where it was milled for distribution to hungry families across #Afghanistan. This wheat is part of an in-kind contribution of 10,000 metric tons from India on top of 40,000 tons in 2022,” UN WFP stated in the tweet.
Last month, the Indian government sent another 20,000 metric tons of wheat to Afghanistan amid a humanitarian crisis in the country using Iran’s Chabahar port, Afghanistan-based Khaama Press reported.
Earlier, another wheat assistance delivery of 40,000 tons was carried out through Pakistan’s land border.
India shows its dedication to promoting the stability and prosperity of Afghanistan by widening the channels for aid distribution, as per Khaama Press.
Afghanistan, under the Taliban, is facing its worst humanitarian crisis and the women of the country are denied fundamental rights. According to a World Food Programme assessment, Afghanistan is one of the nations with extreme food insecurity, with nine million people affected by severe economic difficulties and hunger.
Since the Taliban seized power in August 2021, the law and order situation in the country has only deteriorated, with the rise in cases of terrorism and blasts.
The group banned women from going to schools, and later in December last year, they banned women from going to universities and working with aid agencies.
Meanwhile, in his address at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) which was held in a virtual format on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Afghan soil should not be allowed to be used to destabilise its neighbourhood.
Speaking at the SCO heads of the summit meeting, PM Modi said that humanitarian assistance and setting up an elected government in Kabul are major priorities of the SCO. “The situation in Afghanistan has directly affected the security of the region. India’s concerns and aspirations for Afghanistan are at par with other SCO countries. We will have to collectively work for the welfare of the Afghan people. Humanitarian assistance to Afghan citizens, forming an elected and inclusive government, fighting against drug trafficking and terrorism, and ensuring the rights of women, children and minorities- these all are our shared priorities,” he said.
Referring to age-old ties that India and Afghanistan share, PM Modi added, “Over the last two decades, India has contributed to the economic and social development of Afghanistan. We have continued to send assistance even after the 2021 episode. It is important that the Afghan soil should not be used to spread instability in neighbouring countries or to encourage extremist ideologies.” (ANI)
Organ donation does not affect the appearance of the body. A highly skilled medical team carries out organ retrieval for transplant… N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe speaks with Sunayana Singh, the CEO of ORGAN India…reports Asian Lite News
Over the last few decades, improvements in surgical techniques and transplant medicine have evolved. Complex operations such as kidney, liver, and heart transplants are routinely performed all over the world with good success rates and this has been beneficial for successful organ transplants.
The road to the transplant, however, is riddled with many questions and can be overwhelming for the patient and the family coping with this life-threatening situation. In times such as these, guidance is important. Questions such as where to go and what to do in the case of organ failure, cost, etc need a comprehensive road map.
Sunayana Singh, the CEO of ORGAN India – an initiative of the Parashar Foundation (NGO) to enable organ donation and transplantation in India, answerssome frequently asked questions concerning organ transplants.
Who can become an organ donor?
People of different ages can become donors. You need to register as a donor and inform your family once you have done the same.
Is it important to inform the family after I have registered for organ donation?
Organ donation is a sensitive subject due to the complex religious, cultural, and social beliefs of our country. Talk to your family members about your reasons to pledge organs. Have multiple conversations, and share material with them about success stories and life-saving decisions. Then help them through the process of donation and how your organs can offer hope to others whose lives can be saved through transplants. This is a necessary step as they will need to consent to retrieval.
How to register to become an organ donor?
There are many legitimate organ donation NGOs and government portals that can help you register for the same. Besides this, talk to your physician and discuss the possibilities. You can go to the organ donation website under the Department of Health & Family Welfare or you can even approach any Government Medical College. Besides this, you can also register with NOTTO.
Does it cost anything to become a donor?
There is no cost to the donor, donor’s family, or estate for organ donation. It just needs kindness.
Can the organs be retrieved without my consent if I have a donor card?
This is not true. Even if you have registered for organ donation and you carry a donor card, your family or immediate relatives will be asked for the donation before retrieving the organs. This is a mandatory procedure before donation can be carried out. If the person who is lawfully in possession of the dead body refuses then the organ donation will not be carried out.
Does organ donation disfigure the body?
No. Organ donation does not affect the appearance of the body. A highly skilled medical team carries out organ retrieval for transplant. The process does not disfigure the body in any way. Organ retrieval does not delay any funeral arrangements or customary burial arrangements either.
Can I be a donor if I have a pre-existing medical condition?
In most cases, even patients with pre-existing medical history can be donors. A team of experts decides whether the organs are suitable for transplant or not, taking into account your medical history. Besides this, all donated organs go through rigorous checks to protect the recipient from infections.
Who gives consent in case of brain-stem death?
The person who is legally in possession of the deceased person’s body can sign the consent form. For any organ retrieval, the donor’s family has to give consent. By signing the consent form, the family declares that they have no objection to organ retrieval from the deceased’s body. It is a legally binding document that is kept in the hospital records as well.
How are the retried organs used/distributed?
Donated organs are matched against the waiting list of individuals. Depending on matching criteria which are based on many factors like blood type, tissue type, critical condition, etc the team of experts decides who gets the retrieved organ.
Can I live a normal life after the transplant?
Yes. After an organ transplant, you can live a healthy and active life. Follow the instructions from your doctor and a healthy diet plan. Life can be normal after a transplant for both the donor and the recipient. Organ donation and transplant is a subject that needs sensitization and awareness both in the public and amongst the medical fraternity. Operational queries such as places to stay, labs, chemists, taxis, ambulance, and air ambulance services among other facilities around each transplant-enabled hospital in the country, can feel like towering mountains while anxiously waiting for an organ. There are resources available online like the Transplant guide by ORGAN India that help answer these common questions.
Blood safety relies on public awareness and education. Promoting knowledge about the importance of blood safety, encouraging regular blood donations, and addressing common misconceptions help build a strong culture of blood safety within communities…reports Asian Lite News
Safe blood and blood products have a direct and lifesaving impact on countless individuals. The availability of safe blood contributes significantly to reducing morbidity and mortality rates and improving the quality of life for patients in need. Every two seconds, someone in India needs blood. It is estimated that over 12,000 persons die every day in India due to non-availability of blood. Unfortunately, in our country, many people who need transfusions do not have timely access to safe blood.
Let’s look at some facts about safe blood donation shared by Dr. Gautam Wankhede, Director of Medical Affairs, Mylab Discovery Solutions:
Safe blood is essential in all healthcare facilities to ensure appropriate treatment and minimize preventable mortality. One in four maternal deaths in India is due to excess loss of blood and shortage of blood in hospitals to replenish lost blood. This problem is further compounded by the high prevalence of anaemia in India. More than 1 million new people are diagnosed with cancer each year. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment. A single-car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood.
Blood safety relies deeply on finding the correctly matched compatible blood in a timely manner that has been accurately screened for transmissible infections. Transfusion Transmitted infections (TTIs) are of significant concern for blood safety. In India, serological screening is mandatory for all donated blood for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Malaria, and Syphilis. Out of these, the first three are the most critical. Out of the above, in the case of HIV, HBV, and HCV, the window period, where the screening result can be negative in spite of the presence of infection in the blood donor, is an important factor. The current mandatory screening tests for blood donors in India for the above infections are based on serological techniques (not molecular) and this would mean that donors in the window period of infection may not be detected thereby increasing the risk of TTIs for those who receive blood.
The prevalence of HIV, HBV, and HCV in India is much higher than in most of the developed world.
By adopting Individual Donor Nucleic Acid Testing (ID-NAT) across all blood banks, India can potentially prevent about 90,000 new infections every year.NAT is a highly sensitive molecular testing technique that amplifies and detects the genetic material of pathogens in donated blood. It helps identify infections during the early stages, reducing the risk of transmission through transfusions. NAT has significantly improved blood safety by shortening the ‘window period’ when infections may be undetectable using traditional screening methods.
Blood shortages can occur due to various factors, such as increased demand during emergencies or natural disasters, lower donation rates during holidays or vacation periods, and challenges in maintaining an adequate supply of rare blood types. These shortages highlight the importance of regular blood donations to sustain blood banks throughout the year.
One donation can save up to three lives.
Blood donations are not solely used for direct transfusions. Blood can be processed into various components, including red blood cells, plasma, platelets, and cryoprecipitate. These components undergo further processing to create essential blood derivatives used in treating specific medical conditions such as hemophilia, immune disorders, and burns.
Donated blood has a limited shelf life. Red blood cells, for example, can typically be stored for up to 42 days. Platelets, which are responsible for blood clotting, have an even shorter shelf life of around five days. This limited shelf life emphasizes the ongoing need for regular blood donations to maintain an adequate supply.
Donating blood from time to time is linked to lower blood pressure and a lower risk for heart attacks as per some studies. People with a condition called hereditary hemochromatosis must have blood removed regularly to prevent the build-up of iron.
Blood safety relies on public awareness and education. Promoting knowledge about the importance of blood safety, encouraging regular blood donations, and addressing common misconceptions help build a strong culture of blood safety within communities.
In conclusion, safe blood plays a crucial role in healthcare systems, and its availability relies on voluntary unpaid donations, rigorous testing, and careful screening procedures. Blood safety is a multifaceted process that encompasses stringent donor screening, comprehensive testing for infectious diseases, advanced technologies like NAT and pathogen reduction, proper blood typing, storage, transportation, and adherence to quality control measures.
The UK Government has been working closely with Ukrainian officials to deliver targeted support to ensure medical items are reaching the people who need them most…reports Asian Lite News
More than 3.7 million items of medical supplies have been given to Ukraine by the UK to help the country cope with the emergency caused by the Russian invasion and to help save tens of thousands of lives.
Items including vital medicines, wound packs, and intensive care equipment donated by NHS England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have been flown to the region over the past three weeks, leaving from Stansted and Heathrow Airports, and RAF Brize Norton.
The latest flight – the 11th so far – left from Heathrow Monday morning carrying over 100,000 packs of medicine, including strong painkillers to treat severe pain for those who have been injured by Russian attacks.
Yesterday’s shipment is delivering around 120,000 packs – more than 1.5 million doses – of vital medicines urgently requested by Ukraine. These will help to treat severe pain from serious injuries, as well as to assist with intensive care procedures.
The UK Government has been working closely with Ukrainian officials to deliver targeted support to ensure medical items are reaching the people who need them most.
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said, “It is appalling to watch the atrocities being committed by Putin as he pursues his unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The UK has acted swiftly to provide life-saving humanitarian aid to Ukraine and will continue to do everything we can. Yesterday’s shipment contains vital medicines including strong painkillers to treat severe pain and sedatives for intensive care procedures. I am incredibly grateful for the donations made by NHS England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as we provide further support to our Ukrainian friends.”
The milestone of 3.7 million medical items donated to Ukraine forms part of the government’s wider humanitarian response to this emergency. The UK government flew 21 children with cancer to the UK, who are now receiving lifesaving treatment from the NHS.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said, “Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has displaced millions and caused untold suffering. The UK is playing a leading role in providing humanitarian aid, from medicines, to shelter and expertise on the ground. We are working with the government of Ukraine to ensure we help those who need it most.”
Last Thursday, the government announced that Ukrainians fleeing their home country will be guaranteed free access to NHS healthcare, including hospital services, GP and nurse consultations, urgent care centres and injury units.
🔸The UK donated more than 3.7 million items of medical supplies to Ukraine to help the country cope with the emergency caused by the Russian invasion
The items include vital medicines, wound packs, and intensive care equipment.https://t.co/ubcFw2KT1o
More than 10,200 visas have been granted through the Ukraine Family Scheme and, for those with valid Ukrainian passports, the government has removed the need to attend an in-person appointment to conduct biometric checks before travelling to the UK.
Since 14 March, people in the UK have been able to register their interest to sponsor a named Ukrainian under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, with more than 150,000 people registering.
The government has provided £400 million in humanitarian and economic aid to Ukraine and neighbouring countries since the Russian invasion started, along with defensive anti-tank and anti-aircraft weaponry.
The retrieved corneas on transplantation will restore the sight of two corneal blind patients here…reports Asian Lite News.
A 13-year-old girl who passed away has become a beacon of hope with her parents’ decision to go for organ donation, saving the lives of four patients battling for survival after suffering from end-stage organ failure.
One of the patients belong to Mumbai, while three were treated at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here.
The retrieved corneas on transplantation will restore the sight of two corneal blind patients here.
Expressing indebtedness to the donor family, PGIMER Director Jagat Ram said, “It is an extremely hard decision, but the donor families are a ray of hope, a silver lining in the dark lives of organ failure patients. It is through their generous gifts that hundreds of people each year are given a second chance at life.”
The Director further shared, “At the same time, we cannot underestimate the commitment of the entire team of PGIMER involved in the process, right from the brain death certification committee, transplant coordinators, testing labs, treating doctors and especially the intensivists, who maintain the potential donor in the best condition for optimum usage of organs, and the transplant surgeons who save precious lives with their skill and synergy.”
It was the fateful day of July 8 when the donor girl from Chandigarh became unconscious due to cerebral oedema and was rushed to the Government Multi-Specialty Hospital in Sector 16. However, due to a worsening prognosis, she was shifted to the PGIMER in an extremely critical condition the next day.
But all efforts of the family and doctors could not deter the dark tragedy as the little girl’s 10-day struggle between life and death came to a halt as she could not be revived and was subsequently declared brain dead on July 18.
When it became clear that the girl would not come out of her precarious condition, the transplant coordinators at the PGIMER approached the grief-stricken father to request if he could consider organ donation. The resolute father showcased immense grit and consented to organ donation.
The father, who wants to keep his identity anonymous due to his personal sentiments, said, “It’s something no family should have to go through. We said ‘yes’ to organ donation because we knew this could help someone else and they wouldn’t need to go through the heartache that we were going through. We knew it was the right thing to do.
“We just want people to know about the cause and not who did it, as we have done it so that our daughter re- lives through others. We have done it for our own peace and solace. We hope our daughter’s story will inspire the families who find themselves in the same position.
“We want to aware people on organ donation to realize that death is not the end of things, as people can live on through others, through organ donation.”
PGIMER Additional Medical Superintendent and acting Nodal Officer of ROTTO (North), Ashok Kumar, while detailing about the latest case, said, “As the donor family wanted their daughter to relive in others, it became our moral duty to respect their wish. Following the family’s consent, we secured her heart, liver, kidneys, and corneas.
“Once the donor organs became available, everyone swiftly got into action leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the donor’s legacy continues. As the cross-matching indicated no matching recipient for heart in PGIMER, we immediately got in touch with other transplant hospitals to explore the options for matching the recipients, and finally, the heart was allocated to Sir H.N. Reliance Hospital, Mumbai, with the intervention of NOTTO.”
Elaborating about the Green Corridors created for the case, Kumar said, “To ensure safe and speedy transportation of the harvested organs, a Green Corridor was created in conjunction with the retrieval timings from the PGIMER to the Technical Airport in Chandigarh at around 6.35 a.m. for the transportation of the retrieved heart for the onward flight to Mumbai.”
The actress says they are reaching out to those who are well-off for funding, and acknowledges the cooperation of Chintu Kwatra and Khushiyan Foundation…reports Anjuri Nayar Singh.
Bollywood stars have also started their good initiatives for the nation that face a huge oxygen crisis amid the Covid surge. Actress Raveena Tandon says she is disturbed by the oxygen shortage in the capital amid the second wave of Covid and has taken it upon herself to send oxygen cylinders to the city.
Raveena has started an initiative called Oxygen Seva On The Wheels Mumbai To Delhi, where she is sending oxygen cylinders through her non-profit organisation, Rudra Foundation to the Capital.
“Just look around you, how can what’s happening not need you to do something, instead of just sitting and tweeting about it. As you can see, Delhi is almost gasping for breath, and this is the initiative a few likeminded people along with me decided to take up,” Raveena told .
The actress says they are reaching out to those who are well-off for funding, and acknowledges the cooperation of Chintu Kwatra and Khushiyan Foundation.
“I have dispersed a lot of 300 cylinders and for the rest, we are trying to generate funds from likeminded people, whether it is our friends or anyone who has extra money. We are not pressuring people, the common man to come forward and donate. At this moment, everyone needs to save for emergency that they might face. But yes, we are reaching out to people who can make a difference and asking them to chip in,” she says.
Not only shortage of oxygen, but people are also being forced to pay exorbitant prices for medical necessities. Talking about the same, the actress says: “Be it ambulances or hospitals, oxygen, oximeters, concentrators, the amount of money being charged is ridiculous. People in dire need of these things are desperate, anything to save their near and dear ones, and are shelling out their life’s savings. What can I say about these people taking advantage of the needy at the moment?” she says.
However, she adds that she has also been a lot of support for her initiative. “Many of my family members have chipped in, my extended family, cousins, like-minded friends, people have called me from various places and it is an initiative that is being supported by a lot of people,” she says.
Raveena adds that she is making sure to deliver the oxygen to the right people, so that it can go to those who need it, free of cost.
“What we are doing is a drop in the ocean of what is required, but the fact is that we have tied up with people where we know for sure this will go free of cost to the needy. We have tied up with DCP South Delhi, the police, and we are handing over a part of the lot that is going now. Then we are giving Radha Soami Satsang Beas cylinders because they have a centre at Chattarpur, which is free of cost. We are giving part of it to the army and another NGO, which has tied up with us. We are going through Twitter and verifying whoever is most needy at that time and sending cylinders there. It’s a personal one- to -one thing that we are doing,” she says.
The company said that the organisations are working closely with the Indian government to expedite the entry of these oxygen concentrators and BiPAP machines into the country.
India is going through a tough stage or crisis related to Oxygen and Covid management. Amazon on Sunday announced to donate 10,000 oxygen concentrators and BiPAP machines to hospitals and public institutions to augment their capacity to help Covid-19, infected patients, across multiple cities in India.
The first of these consignments was set to land in Mumbai on Sunday and a majority of the shipping is expected to be completed by April 30.
Amazon has joined hands with ACT Grants, Temasek Foundation, Pune Platform for COVID-19 Response (PPCR) and other partners to urgently airlift over 8,000 oxygen concentrators and 500 BiPAP machines from Singapore.
A typical full face CPAP mask. (Wikipedia)
Additionally, Amazon India is also procuring over 1,500 oxygen concentrators and other critical medical equipment in partnership with non-profits including Swasth, Concern India and impact organisations like ACT Grants and Sattva Consulting.
The company said that the organisations are working closely with the Indian government to expedite the entry of these oxygen concentrators and BiPAP machines into the country.
“We stand firmly with the country, deploying our global logistics network to urgently airlift the needed oxygen concentrators to support the nation’s immediate need,” said Amit Agarwal, Global SVP and Country Head, Amazon India.
A lightweight portable oxygen concentrator. (Wikipedia)
Amazon will bear the cost of airlifting these oxygen concentrators and BiPAP machines, procured through multiple funders including ACT Grants and PPCR from Singapore to India through Air India and other international carriers.
Additionally, the company will also manage the movement of these oxygen concentrators and other donations from the local airport to identified hospitals and institutions.
