Kitchenware, towels to promote condoms sale
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Dec 12, 2011: Sale of condoms across the state by social marketing wing of National Aids Control Organisation has increased by 50 percent this year compared to last year. Besides increased awareness among public on “playing safe” social marketing teams are motivating retailers across the state with various enticing schemes to sell condoms.
NACO sells two varieties of condoms- Deluxe and Masti under subsidized rates with an aim that condom should be available to everyone in their vicinity. These condoms are being manufactured by State owned Hindustan Latex Limited. While the sale of condoms between July 2009 and June 2010 was 9.1 millions it was 14.5 millions between July 2010 and June 2011.
“There has been a great growth in the condoms sale. Our aim is to make condom available to everyone as part NACO project, especially to those high risk groups. Now you can see our condoms even in a small departmental store or a pan shop,” NACO social marketing state manager Nityanand Das told this correspondent.
As per the marketing strategies the teams look for non traditional outlets other than medical stores to sell condoms. This year they have increased the outlets to 31,000 in all the 23 districts. The teams also provide gifts to the retailers in an attempt to motivate, encourage them to sell NACO’s condoms.
Under various promotional schemes if the outlets buy certain amount of condoms they will be given towels, kitchen ware and bed sheets as gifts. These schemes were also learnt to be introduced to face stiff competition from other aggressive private players in the sector.
“We always try to motivate the customer to buy NACO’s condoms as we get good gifts as per the number of condoms we buy and sell,” said Narayana, who runs a pan shop.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Hospitals in Vizag can’t avert Kolkata kind fire tragedy
Hospitals in Vizag can’t avert Kolkata kind fire tragedy
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Dec 9, 2011: Most hospitals in the city of destiny flout fire-safety norms and are potential death fire traps in case of a repeat of Kolkata tragedy, where more than 60 innocent patients along with their kin were killed in a hospital fire on Friday. Both GVMC’s fire prevention wing and district Fire officials issued notices to around 80 hospitals in the city to immediately comply with the fire safety norms or else face action.
While the issues related to those hospitals having four storied buildings are dealt by the GVMC’s fire prevention wing, above four floors buildings are dealt by the district fire office.
During a surprise inspection by district fire office it was revealed that around 50 hospitals of the 58 inspected were flouting fire safety norms. They were immediately issued notices to install fire safety equipment. GVMC’s fire prevention wing sleuths also inspected some of the hospitals in July this year and issued notices to 25 of them. There are about 350 clinics and hospitals run by government and private persons in the city.
“From Monday onwards we are going to inspect those hospitals which were served notices earlier for flouting fire norms as per the Fire Safety Act. Even now if the respective managements fail to comply with the norms we will recommend action towards those hospital buildings to the GVMC Commissioner,” told GVMC’s fire prevention officer U Sarath Babu to this correspondent.
He also added that all the hospitals lack trained staff to fire fight if any mishap happens.
Only some have installed fire extinguishers, while several hospitals do not have the ramp system to shift the patients to safety in the event of an accident. According to the highly placed sources district fire department had also advised some of the popular hospitals like Seven Hills, AMG International, NRI and Vasan Eye Care Centre to install additional fire equipment for safety measures. Sarath Babu also asked the hospital managements to avail the training facilities offered by them to handle fire emergency measures. “It’s damning to know that most hospitals in the city flout fire safety norms. What happened in Kolkata on Friday may happen in Vizag also anytime. God forbid nothing happened so far. Authorities rise only when an incident happens until then they prefer to put their feet up and relax. There should be set mechanism where everything should be monitored from time to time,” said SB Rao of Forum for Better Visakha (FBV).
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Dec 9, 2011: Most hospitals in the city of destiny flout fire-safety norms and are potential death fire traps in case of a repeat of Kolkata tragedy, where more than 60 innocent patients along with their kin were killed in a hospital fire on Friday. Both GVMC’s fire prevention wing and district Fire officials issued notices to around 80 hospitals in the city to immediately comply with the fire safety norms or else face action.
While the issues related to those hospitals having four storied buildings are dealt by the GVMC’s fire prevention wing, above four floors buildings are dealt by the district fire office.
During a surprise inspection by district fire office it was revealed that around 50 hospitals of the 58 inspected were flouting fire safety norms. They were immediately issued notices to install fire safety equipment. GVMC’s fire prevention wing sleuths also inspected some of the hospitals in July this year and issued notices to 25 of them. There are about 350 clinics and hospitals run by government and private persons in the city.
“From Monday onwards we are going to inspect those hospitals which were served notices earlier for flouting fire norms as per the Fire Safety Act. Even now if the respective managements fail to comply with the norms we will recommend action towards those hospital buildings to the GVMC Commissioner,” told GVMC’s fire prevention officer U Sarath Babu to this correspondent.
He also added that all the hospitals lack trained staff to fire fight if any mishap happens.
Only some have installed fire extinguishers, while several hospitals do not have the ramp system to shift the patients to safety in the event of an accident. According to the highly placed sources district fire department had also advised some of the popular hospitals like Seven Hills, AMG International, NRI and Vasan Eye Care Centre to install additional fire equipment for safety measures. Sarath Babu also asked the hospital managements to avail the training facilities offered by them to handle fire emergency measures. “It’s damning to know that most hospitals in the city flout fire safety norms. What happened in Kolkata on Friday may happen in Vizag also anytime. God forbid nothing happened so far. Authorities rise only when an incident happens until then they prefer to put their feet up and relax. There should be set mechanism where everything should be monitored from time to time,” said SB Rao of Forum for Better Visakha (FBV).
Vizag consumers say FDI benefits them
Vizag consumers say FDI benefits them
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Dec 8, 2011: A survey conducted by the students of MBA in retail management at Andhra University in the city revealed that consumers opined allowing 51 percent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into retail trade would benefit them and also help for the growth of retailing in India. However the entry of well established multi national companies will certainly affect the young Indian corporates in retail sector and millions of small scale retailers depending on this sector for livelihood. At the time when entire nation is debating on the contentious issue of Centre’s decision on allowing FDI in retail trade Andhra University students conducted a sample survey on 700 local consumers to know their take on the issue.
Interestingly 64 percent revealed that consumers will be benefited with the government’s decision to allow FDI in Indian retailing. Around 65.43 percent of the respondents opined that that it will help for the growth of retailing in India. Whereas 21.14 percent responded negatively. The majority of the respondents around 57.43 percent revealed that the government’s decision to allow MNCs in retailing affect the Indian corporate retailers and 62 percent felt that it will also affect small scale retailers.
“The crux is that though the FDI in retail sector helps in the growth of the sector and benefits the consumers it is too early to allow the FDI. The corporates and the small retailers be given sufficient time to establish themselves and to gain competencies to face competitive threats from the MNCs,” said Prof K Rama Rao who guided the students to conduct the survey. The questionnaires were campaigned at the premises of shopping malls, departmental stores and small retail outlets by the students of MBA in retail management.
Prof Rao further added that retailing is one of the fast growing business segments in India. Many Indian companies had just entered in retail sector and trying to establish themselves in the business in line with the international giants. The share of organized retailing in India is only 5 percent as against 20 percent in China and 40 to 60 percent in many developed countries. Therefore Indian retailing is dominated by millions of small scale retailers. Any policy towards retailing should kleep in mind the millions of small scale retailers and their dependents, opined Prof Rao.
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Dec 8, 2011: A survey conducted by the students of MBA in retail management at Andhra University in the city revealed that consumers opined allowing 51 percent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into retail trade would benefit them and also help for the growth of retailing in India. However the entry of well established multi national companies will certainly affect the young Indian corporates in retail sector and millions of small scale retailers depending on this sector for livelihood. At the time when entire nation is debating on the contentious issue of Centre’s decision on allowing FDI in retail trade Andhra University students conducted a sample survey on 700 local consumers to know their take on the issue.
Interestingly 64 percent revealed that consumers will be benefited with the government’s decision to allow FDI in Indian retailing. Around 65.43 percent of the respondents opined that that it will help for the growth of retailing in India. Whereas 21.14 percent responded negatively. The majority of the respondents around 57.43 percent revealed that the government’s decision to allow MNCs in retailing affect the Indian corporate retailers and 62 percent felt that it will also affect small scale retailers.
“The crux is that though the FDI in retail sector helps in the growth of the sector and benefits the consumers it is too early to allow the FDI. The corporates and the small retailers be given sufficient time to establish themselves and to gain competencies to face competitive threats from the MNCs,” said Prof K Rama Rao who guided the students to conduct the survey. The questionnaires were campaigned at the premises of shopping malls, departmental stores and small retail outlets by the students of MBA in retail management.
Prof Rao further added that retailing is one of the fast growing business segments in India. Many Indian companies had just entered in retail sector and trying to establish themselves in the business in line with the international giants. The share of organized retailing in India is only 5 percent as against 20 percent in China and 40 to 60 percent in many developed countries. Therefore Indian retailing is dominated by millions of small scale retailers. Any policy towards retailing should kleep in mind the millions of small scale retailers and their dependents, opined Prof Rao.
Vizag's abnormal warm winter
Vizag's abnormal warm winter
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Nov 28, 2011: It’s already end of November and feels like winter is yet to set in here in Vizag. Vizagites who enjoyed pleasant winters at this point of time earlier are now facing the worst ever humid and hot conditions this season.
Locals are experiencing some abnormal winter conditions this season. “Mornings during November were always so cold and refreshing. But that’s all past. Since two years we have been experiencing some worst conditions during winter season. I don’t know why it is happening like this. Bu it’s not good,” recollected Radha Krishna, a 50 year old entrepreneur of MVP Colony.
Instead of feeling chilly, public is suffering with suffocation and sultry feeling. Statistics at the weather office also suggests there is an increase in the temperature levels this year when compared to last year exactly during these days. Minimum temperatures last year during Nov 25, 26, 27, 28 were 22.5C, 21.8, 21.6 and 21.9 respectively.
Whereas this year minimum temperatures since four days were recorded as 24.4, 24.8, 24.6 and 23.9 Celsius on Monday. Statistics clearly shows that minimum temperature levels this year have increased at least by 3 Celsius due to which public is feeling the heat. “We have predicted a relatively warm winter this year due to various reasons,” said Prof OSRU Bhanu Kumar of Andhra University’s department of meteorology and oceanography.
He said that the present humid and hot conditions can be attributed to the global warming and climate change scenarios. Though these reasons are a global phenomenon the professor also said that some local factors would also add to the situation. He pointed out that the pollution levels are also a cause of concern and would definitely have a negative impact on the weather.
Prof Bhanu Kumar further added that the pollution caused by the industries can be seen as a thick layer in the mornings in the form of fog. He observed that though there is a fog kind of situation the weather remains warm and at sometimes hot. “There is rampant industrialization happening around the city making city a blast furnace. We are worried if situation is like this now what will be the future,” pointed noted environmentalist SB Rao. The professor also said that as the anti cyclonic storm is weak in northwest India winter reduces in our region.
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Nov 28, 2011: It’s already end of November and feels like winter is yet to set in here in Vizag. Vizagites who enjoyed pleasant winters at this point of time earlier are now facing the worst ever humid and hot conditions this season.
Locals are experiencing some abnormal winter conditions this season. “Mornings during November were always so cold and refreshing. But that’s all past. Since two years we have been experiencing some worst conditions during winter season. I don’t know why it is happening like this. Bu it’s not good,” recollected Radha Krishna, a 50 year old entrepreneur of MVP Colony.
Instead of feeling chilly, public is suffering with suffocation and sultry feeling. Statistics at the weather office also suggests there is an increase in the temperature levels this year when compared to last year exactly during these days. Minimum temperatures last year during Nov 25, 26, 27, 28 were 22.5C, 21.8, 21.6 and 21.9 respectively.
Whereas this year minimum temperatures since four days were recorded as 24.4, 24.8, 24.6 and 23.9 Celsius on Monday. Statistics clearly shows that minimum temperature levels this year have increased at least by 3 Celsius due to which public is feeling the heat. “We have predicted a relatively warm winter this year due to various reasons,” said Prof OSRU Bhanu Kumar of Andhra University’s department of meteorology and oceanography.
He said that the present humid and hot conditions can be attributed to the global warming and climate change scenarios. Though these reasons are a global phenomenon the professor also said that some local factors would also add to the situation. He pointed out that the pollution levels are also a cause of concern and would definitely have a negative impact on the weather.
Prof Bhanu Kumar further added that the pollution caused by the industries can be seen as a thick layer in the mornings in the form of fog. He observed that though there is a fog kind of situation the weather remains warm and at sometimes hot. “There is rampant industrialization happening around the city making city a blast furnace. We are worried if situation is like this now what will be the future,” pointed noted environmentalist SB Rao. The professor also said that as the anti cyclonic storm is weak in northwest India winter reduces in our region.
“Positive” couple leads happy life with baby
“Positive” couple leads happy life with baby
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Nov 27, 2011: Rejecting the idea of living a limited life and conventional wisdom of not to have babies two HIV infected patients in the city got married, had a healthy non HIV baby and living life happily showing a ‘positive’ path to other patients. Pradeep, 28 (Name changed), a supervisor in a small firm, was infected with HIV after he married a relative in 2007.
After realizing his condition he immediately divorced his wife. Life was like a hell for him after that. He could not face his family, friends and society. And he wanted to slowly die. It was in 2008 that he came in contact with Sunanda, 24 (name changed), another HIV infected patient through ‘Society for Visakha Network of Positive People living with HIV’.
They both struck a chord immediately seeing each other and decided to get married. Now they both are happily married ‘positive’ couple and proud parents of a 2 year old baby girl. “I thought it’s the end of my life. I wanted to end my life before the virus killed me. Then I came in contact with this woman who later became part of my life. Now we have one more addition to our family, my cute baby,” Pradeep told this correspondent.
Now the baby is everything to the couple. “It was like we found life in the form of our baby. Yes, we know that we can’t live long like you people. But will be very happy until we take the last breath. We also have future plans for our daughter. We will get her admitted in a good school and give her the best possible education. And after us we planned finances such a way that she need not look for anything except for her parents,” said Sunanda with moist eyes.
Sunanda is also working hard along with her husband to save money for the baby’s future. The Society’s president, Lakshmi talking to this correspondent says that it was through regular counseling as part Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission (PPCT) programme that both the HIV patients could think about having a baby. Fortunately with constant counseling and enough measures baby delivered didn’t have HIV.
“There is this stigma still in the society towards HIV patients. They think its end of their life after infected with killer virus. But this couple proved the other way round,” says Lakhshmi, who is also an HIV infected patient since 8 years.
She added that tired of fighting stigma from the society, HIV affected persons in the three districts of north Andhra –Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam decided that they would take care of themselves, by becoming a family. The HIV patients have formed a network among them and involving each other in their lives, be it to attend a celebration or to help one of them in need.
The patients even help each other in their last rituals. The society which was started in 2005 with just 200 members now has members more than 5,000. There are also some marriages happen among themselves. “It’s an inspiring success story of a network. HIV patients should not suffer indoors. They should come out and lead happy life,” says district Aids Control Society project manager Sailaja.
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Nov 27, 2011: Rejecting the idea of living a limited life and conventional wisdom of not to have babies two HIV infected patients in the city got married, had a healthy non HIV baby and living life happily showing a ‘positive’ path to other patients. Pradeep, 28 (Name changed), a supervisor in a small firm, was infected with HIV after he married a relative in 2007.
After realizing his condition he immediately divorced his wife. Life was like a hell for him after that. He could not face his family, friends and society. And he wanted to slowly die. It was in 2008 that he came in contact with Sunanda, 24 (name changed), another HIV infected patient through ‘Society for Visakha Network of Positive People living with HIV’.
They both struck a chord immediately seeing each other and decided to get married. Now they both are happily married ‘positive’ couple and proud parents of a 2 year old baby girl. “I thought it’s the end of my life. I wanted to end my life before the virus killed me. Then I came in contact with this woman who later became part of my life. Now we have one more addition to our family, my cute baby,” Pradeep told this correspondent.
Now the baby is everything to the couple. “It was like we found life in the form of our baby. Yes, we know that we can’t live long like you people. But will be very happy until we take the last breath. We also have future plans for our daughter. We will get her admitted in a good school and give her the best possible education. And after us we planned finances such a way that she need not look for anything except for her parents,” said Sunanda with moist eyes.
Sunanda is also working hard along with her husband to save money for the baby’s future. The Society’s president, Lakshmi talking to this correspondent says that it was through regular counseling as part Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission (PPCT) programme that both the HIV patients could think about having a baby. Fortunately with constant counseling and enough measures baby delivered didn’t have HIV.
“There is this stigma still in the society towards HIV patients. They think its end of their life after infected with killer virus. But this couple proved the other way round,” says Lakhshmi, who is also an HIV infected patient since 8 years.
She added that tired of fighting stigma from the society, HIV affected persons in the three districts of north Andhra –Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam decided that they would take care of themselves, by becoming a family. The HIV patients have formed a network among them and involving each other in their lives, be it to attend a celebration or to help one of them in need.
The patients even help each other in their last rituals. The society which was started in 2005 with just 200 members now has members more than 5,000. There are also some marriages happen among themselves. “It’s an inspiring success story of a network. HIV patients should not suffer indoors. They should come out and lead happy life,” says district Aids Control Society project manager Sailaja.
Vizag fishing harbour open for miscreants
Vizag fishing harbour open for miscreants
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Nov 25: Authorities seems to have not learnt lessons from the past. At the time when the country is going to observe third anniversary of Mumbai’s 26/11 terror attack, DC’s status check at Vizag’s fishing harbour reveals that it’s not so difficult for a miscreant to enter city through the harbour from the sea. Remember terrorists who unleashed havoc in Mumbai on 26/11 three years ago allegedly gained entry into Indian territory from sea posing as fishermen. Though off late there are no terror activities reported here, Vizag has been always under terror radar due to presence of Eastern Naval Command head quarters and other strategic security establishments along with numerous industries, SEZs.
There is hectic activity in the fishing harbour with fishermen, women seen busy in their regular chores but hardly any security personnel is seen around. There are no metal detectors installed at either of the entry or exit points to intercept any suspicious persons or objects. And not even CCTV cameras seen installed to regularly monitor the movement of persons, vehicles. Adding to the woes AP tourism is also conducting boat ride into the sea from the same premises. “Posing as a tourist it’s very easy for any foreign national to conduct a recce on how to enter the harbour from the sea and then get into city. As a tourist he or she can even take photographs and video of the entire harbour. And we have brought this issue into the notice of authorities several times to beef up the security here and also to shift the tourism activities from here,” AP mechanised fishing boats operators association, president Appa Rao, told this correspondent.
Sources have said the Ministry of Home Affairs is keen in shifting the harbour from the vicinity of the Visakhapatnam port to Bheemli on security grounds. In the aftermath of the terrorist attack on Mumbai, the ministry has taken the view that fishing harbours should be located at a distance from the major ports and therefore the Vizag fishing harbour should be relocated at Bheemli. The present harbour, was constructed in 1976 on 24 hectares of land belonging to Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT)
When asked about the security arrangements at the fishing harbour a top security official of VPT under conditions anonymity said “Though the land belongs to Visakhapatnam Port Trust since there is hectic movement of general public in fishing harbour it is the responsibility of local police to take care of security arrangements”. But, city police commissioner Purnachandra Rao said that providing security to the fishing harbour is not their duty and local police would definitely interfere if any crime happens on harbour premises.
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Nov 25: Authorities seems to have not learnt lessons from the past. At the time when the country is going to observe third anniversary of Mumbai’s 26/11 terror attack, DC’s status check at Vizag’s fishing harbour reveals that it’s not so difficult for a miscreant to enter city through the harbour from the sea. Remember terrorists who unleashed havoc in Mumbai on 26/11 three years ago allegedly gained entry into Indian territory from sea posing as fishermen. Though off late there are no terror activities reported here, Vizag has been always under terror radar due to presence of Eastern Naval Command head quarters and other strategic security establishments along with numerous industries, SEZs.
There is hectic activity in the fishing harbour with fishermen, women seen busy in their regular chores but hardly any security personnel is seen around. There are no metal detectors installed at either of the entry or exit points to intercept any suspicious persons or objects. And not even CCTV cameras seen installed to regularly monitor the movement of persons, vehicles. Adding to the woes AP tourism is also conducting boat ride into the sea from the same premises. “Posing as a tourist it’s very easy for any foreign national to conduct a recce on how to enter the harbour from the sea and then get into city. As a tourist he or she can even take photographs and video of the entire harbour. And we have brought this issue into the notice of authorities several times to beef up the security here and also to shift the tourism activities from here,” AP mechanised fishing boats operators association, president Appa Rao, told this correspondent.
Sources have said the Ministry of Home Affairs is keen in shifting the harbour from the vicinity of the Visakhapatnam port to Bheemli on security grounds. In the aftermath of the terrorist attack on Mumbai, the ministry has taken the view that fishing harbours should be located at a distance from the major ports and therefore the Vizag fishing harbour should be relocated at Bheemli. The present harbour, was constructed in 1976 on 24 hectares of land belonging to Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT)
When asked about the security arrangements at the fishing harbour a top security official of VPT under conditions anonymity said “Though the land belongs to Visakhapatnam Port Trust since there is hectic movement of general public in fishing harbour it is the responsibility of local police to take care of security arrangements”. But, city police commissioner Purnachandra Rao said that providing security to the fishing harbour is not their duty and local police would definitely interfere if any crime happens on harbour premises.
AU researchers find molecular compound that kills HIV
AU researchers find molecular compound that kills HIV
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Nov 24: Researchers at Andhra University’s college of pharmaceutical sciences identified a medicinal plant which has a molecular compound that can kill the dreaded HIV.
Invitro studies conducted on a blood sample of a HIV infected patient with the molecular compound of Tephrosia pulcherimma, a medicinal plant, which is called “Adavi Vempali” locally and available in the forests near Vizianagaram and Talakona gave positive results.
Normally any medicine is made from a molecular compound which has the characteristic of curing a disease. Some molecular compounds can be extracted from medicinal plants which are later used to make medicines by pharma industries.
Though the research and tests are at a preliminary stage further in depth study into the molecular compound might result in finding medicine to cure HIV/AIDS.
AU College of pharmaceutical sciences Principal and chief researcher of the project, Prof S Ganapthy told this correspondent that as part of blind screening they wanted to test whether Tephrosia pulcherimma’s molecular compound can kill HIV. “The molecular compound pulcherimin extracted from Tephrosia pulcherimma has anti bacterial and anti fungal characteristic. As part of blind screening we wanted to test the compound on HIV,” said Prof Ganapathi who has been researching on phyto medicine since more than 30 years.
The molecular compound pulicherimin was then sent to the micro biology and immunology lab at Maratha Mandal dental science research centre, Belgaum in Karnataka. At Belgaum lab invitro study was conducted on a drop of HIV infected blood sample. The blood sample that had 2.8 lakh copies of HIV virus before dropped to 1,000 in number after a 50 micro gram of pulicherimin molecular compound was added. “We were surprised with the drop in the virus count,” said Ganapathy.
He immediately sent the same molecular compound to Tropical Research Institute in Switzerland and an in-depth study on the subject is underway. Researchers here are eagerly waiting for the result to come out. “Research is still at a very preliminary stage. There should be clinical trials to test side affects etc”, added Ganpathy, who has a masters degree in Pharmacology from University in Strathclyde in UK.
Ganapthy was very quick to act and applied for a patent on the medicinal plant Tephrosia pulcherimma and got registered at Indian Patent Office at Chennai. “Screening test on the HIV infected blood sample by the molecular compound sent by Andhra University pharma college researchers gave a positive result and quite encouraging. But it’s at a very initial stage. Further in depth study should be done,” head of the department of molecular biology and immunology at Maratha Mandal research centre, Dr Kishore Bhat told this correspondent confirming the tests.
By SNV Sudhir
Visakhapatnam, Nov 24: Researchers at Andhra University’s college of pharmaceutical sciences identified a medicinal plant which has a molecular compound that can kill the dreaded HIV.
Invitro studies conducted on a blood sample of a HIV infected patient with the molecular compound of Tephrosia pulcherimma, a medicinal plant, which is called “Adavi Vempali” locally and available in the forests near Vizianagaram and Talakona gave positive results.
Normally any medicine is made from a molecular compound which has the characteristic of curing a disease. Some molecular compounds can be extracted from medicinal plants which are later used to make medicines by pharma industries.
Though the research and tests are at a preliminary stage further in depth study into the molecular compound might result in finding medicine to cure HIV/AIDS.
AU College of pharmaceutical sciences Principal and chief researcher of the project, Prof S Ganapthy told this correspondent that as part of blind screening they wanted to test whether Tephrosia pulcherimma’s molecular compound can kill HIV. “The molecular compound pulcherimin extracted from Tephrosia pulcherimma has anti bacterial and anti fungal characteristic. As part of blind screening we wanted to test the compound on HIV,” said Prof Ganapathi who has been researching on phyto medicine since more than 30 years.
The molecular compound pulicherimin was then sent to the micro biology and immunology lab at Maratha Mandal dental science research centre, Belgaum in Karnataka. At Belgaum lab invitro study was conducted on a drop of HIV infected blood sample. The blood sample that had 2.8 lakh copies of HIV virus before dropped to 1,000 in number after a 50 micro gram of pulicherimin molecular compound was added. “We were surprised with the drop in the virus count,” said Ganapathy.
He immediately sent the same molecular compound to Tropical Research Institute in Switzerland and an in-depth study on the subject is underway. Researchers here are eagerly waiting for the result to come out. “Research is still at a very preliminary stage. There should be clinical trials to test side affects etc”, added Ganpathy, who has a masters degree in Pharmacology from University in Strathclyde in UK.
Ganapthy was very quick to act and applied for a patent on the medicinal plant Tephrosia pulcherimma and got registered at Indian Patent Office at Chennai. “Screening test on the HIV infected blood sample by the molecular compound sent by Andhra University pharma college researchers gave a positive result and quite encouraging. But it’s at a very initial stage. Further in depth study should be done,” head of the department of molecular biology and immunology at Maratha Mandal research centre, Dr Kishore Bhat told this correspondent confirming the tests.
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