Gasping For Breath

In 2020 March, when the sudden lockdown was imposed, one thing that was on every TV channel was the Tablighi Jamaat. No one knew about Tablighi Jamaat and that they were holding a meeting in Nizamuddin till then. But overnight the vilification, the name-calling, and the targeting of Muslims across the country as super spreaders was taken over by TV debates. Instead of spreading awareness, the media chose to stigmatise a section of the population. It hampered community outreach and communicating effectively. For this episode, Suno India's editor-in-chief DVL Padma Priya spoke to Ashima Mandla, an advocate with the Delhi high court to understand the issue better and the role of language in health communication. This series has been made possible by a grant from the Thakur Family Foundation.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

The Sirens of ambulances and mortuary vans, relatives of patients running around with Oxygen cylinders, and empty roads because of lockdowns. Were some unforgettable scenes from the COVID lockdown in March 2021. From what seemed like a complete failure of the system rose some heroes who stood their ground and took risks on themselves to keep others alive. One such person is Saurabh Sonawane, a doctor by graduation and an IAS officer of the 2017 batch of Indian administrative services. In this episode, Suno India's editor-in-chief DVL Padma Priya spoke with him about the role of communication in this emergency. She also asked him about the migrant crisis and intercommunication between different state governments and the national government.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In this episode of Talking Right, Suno India's editor-in-chief DVL Padma reported over the course of the pandemic, we bring to you a conversation with Dr Yogesh Kalkonde, a renowned public health researcher. Dr Kalkonde works for SEARCH, Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health. He primarily works in the rural part of India.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In this episode, Suno India editor-in-chief DVL Padma Priya spoke with Dr Mittali Sethi, an IAS officer from the 2017 batch. When the lockdown was imposed Dr Sethi was posted as the Project Officer for the integrated tribal development project (ITDP) in Dharni village,  in Melghat of Maharashtra’s Amravati region. This became the first village to reach 100 % vaccination status when the vaccine was rolled out for the above 45 years old population. She shared the strategies she employed to spread awareness about covid, myth busts about the disease, and increase the uptake of vaccination. Dr. Sethi is an enthusiastic officer and currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Parishad in Chandrapur District of Maharashtra.  This series has been made possible by a grant from the Thakur Family Foundation.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

his episode sets the context about why it is important to communicate well during a pandemic like COVID-19 and features discussions between Suno India editor-in-chief DVL Padma Priya and Prof Anant Bhan, a researcher in Global health, bioethics, and health policy who works for a not-for-profit health policy organisation Sangath and also Dr. Usha Raman, professor at the Department of Communications at the University of Hyderabad.This series has been made possible by a grant from the Thakur Family Foundation.Resources:India readies itself to address the threat of pandemic influenzaIndia’s Pandemic Preparedness and Response See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

This is the last reported episode in season 2 of Gasping for Breath. In this episode, Suno India’s Menaka Rao has an extended chat with Girish Pasupathy, a software engineer from Coimbatore who is living with Long Covid after nearly a year of sickness. Girish has changed his life and outlook towards the disease and disability over a period of time. He is learning to live with long covid and has learned to advocate for himself. References Episode #47 - Post COVID-19 conditionWhat causes Long Covid? Here are the three leading theories | ScienceCould tiny blood clots cause long COVID’s puzzling symptoms?Combined triple treatment of fibrin amyloid microclots and platelet pathology in individuals with Long COVID/ Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) can resolve their persistent symptomsPersistent clotting protein pathology in Long COVID/Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) is accompanied by increased levels of antiplasmin | Cardiovascular Diabetology | Full TextHyperbaric oxygen therapy improves neurocognitive functions and symptoms of post-COVID condition: randomized controlled trial | Scientific ReportsCould microclots help explain the mystery of long Covid? | Resia Pretorius | The GuardianSee sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In this episode of the Gasping for Breath. In this episode, we discuss how long covid affects your work life. Students suffering from long covid have had to delay giving competitive exams for instance. We spoke to people who missed out on opportunities, took much less work or had to take time off work.  ReferencesGuidance on “Long COVID” as a Disability Under the ADA, Section | HHS.govSickness and absence because of long COVID: Long COVID – advice for employers and employees - AcasNew data shows long Covid is keeping as many as 4 million people out of workSee sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In this episode of Gasping for Breath season 2, we raise a question- Is Long Covid a disability? In 2021, the Americans with Disabilities Act recognised Long Covid as a disability.  In June, a tribunal in the UK recognised long covid as a disability. This case was filed by a man suffering from Long covid who was sacked from his job and wanted permission to sue his employer.  So in this episode, Suno India’s Menaka Rao spoke to Amba Salelka, a lawyer working on disability rights and implementation of Convention of Rights of Persons with Disability. She spoke about how people with long covid can advocate for their rights under The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 References  Guidance on “Long COVID” as a Disability Under the ADA, Section | HHS.govLong Covid is a disability, tribunal rules in landmark caseTHE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, 2016 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities | OHCHR.Question Sets - The Washington Group on Disability StatisticsSee sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

This episode of Gasping for Breath is an attempt to understand Long Covid from the scientific community. We try to understand what is known about Long covid, what are its different manifestations, what are its possible causes and what are the possible ways to manage the disease.This episode features Dr Ashwin Rajenesh and Dr Sarath Menon from Kerala and Dr Asad Khan from the UK. References A clinical case definition of post COVID-19 condition by a Delphi consensus, 6 October 2021Characterizing long COVID in an international cohort: 7 months of symptoms and their impacthttp://www.euro-me.org/Documents/Library/magical-medicine.pdfWhat causes Long Covid? Here are the three leading theories | SciencePersistent clotting protein pathology in Long COVID/Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) is accompanied by increased levels of antiplasmin | Cardiovascular Diabetology | Full TextCould microclots help explain the mystery of long Covid? | Resia Pretorius | The GuardianRecommendations for the recognition, diagnosis, and management of long COVID: a Delphi study | BritishJournal of General PracticePrevalence of ongoing symptoms following coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in the UK : 6 May 2022See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In this episode, the survivors of Long Covid discuss their experiences with doctors. Most of them have been gaslighted by the medical fraternity. Medical gaslighting makes patients question their own experiences and make them wonder if they are legitimate.  In this episode, Suno India’s Padma Priya DVL describes her journey of simply trying to get a diagnosis for her condition. Joining her are Girish, Chinmay, and Sourya from the previous episodes. See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

The second season of Gasping for Breath is about the people who live with Long Covid.  About 22 months after the pandemic began, in October 2021, the World Health Organisation defined what they called Post Covid condition or what people living with the condition call Long Covid. A recent study by the Institute of Health Metrics and evaluation which is still in the preprint stage has estimated that there are 144.7 million people suffering from Long Covid globally in 2020 and 2021. The same study estimated that about four crore people suffer from long covid in India. These people have symptoms of fatigue, respiratory symptoms and cognitive problems such as brain fog. Suno India’s founder, Padma Priya DVL is a long covid advocate and the founder of India’s Long Covid Support group In this episode, Suno India’s Menaka Rao spoke to four survivors, Chinmay Pednekar, Sourya Dash, Girish Pasupathy and Alaknanda Daspute. The four survivors talk about how their initial experience of feeling completely alien in their own bodies.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

TB is also a highly stigmatised disease making it very difficult for patients enduring treatment. In this episode, we look at how the stigma makes it worse for women TB patients, a marginalised group. We hear the voices of women who express how they feel as TB patients and survivors, and the disease has affected their life significantly.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

The private sector treats about 70% of TB patients. In this episode, we go to Patna which is successfully running a programme in engaging the private sector to battle TB. The programme links the private sector with the facilities provided in the public sector which helps in standardising the diagnosis and treatment of TB.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

India has the highest number of patients suffering from drug-resistant tuberculosis in the world. However, the access to newer TB drugs which have so far been more effective are not as easily available. The patients are usually given old regimens which are less effective and full of toxic side effects. See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In this episode, we travel to Manipur and understand the risks of TB infection with the drug user community. The drug user community has, by and large, been ignored by the TB programme of the country. However because of the risks of contracting other infections such as HIV and hepatitis C, and the use of opioids itself makes a person more vulnerable to TB. See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

The Joint Monitoring Mission recently visited Kerala and were all praises for its work in TB control with aims to eliminate the disease. In this episode we speak to Dr Shibu Balakrishnan and Dr Rakesh PS, both WHO officers in Kerala who have provided technical support in designing this successful programme. The experts talk about how engaging state health workers and resources optimally helped them work out a strategy that works.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

All it takes is a big box which cannot go unnoticed to stir a conversation about what's in/on it. In Jharkhand, that's what clicked in Hazaribagh district. Faiz Anwar made a box with "What do you know about TB?" written on it and asked for it to be passed on from one shop to another. In a place where TB is considered a curse and isn't something people want to talk about, he says, people now want to know about it and those with TB come to seek for guidance. In this episode, we spoke with Faiz to understand his efforts towards community outreach in the state of Jharkhand. See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In this episode, we speak to human rights activist, Allan Maleche from Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV and AIDS (KELIN) which has supported rights of both HIV positive people and TB patients and fought in court. Last month, they were awarded the Kochon Prize at the 50th Union World Conference on Lung Health in Hyderabad. Maleche spoke about how the law can be effectively used to support TB patients. See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

In this special episode, Suno India editor, Padma Priya, brings an interview with Nandita Venkatesan, one of the founders of Bolo Didi.Bolo Didi led by TB survivors and patient activists Nandita Venkatesan and Rhea Lobo is a sisterhood of women TB survivors who use social media, WhatsApp and telephone calls to connect with and mentor people affected by TB in India.  The first-hand TB experiences of its didis (sisters) inform the support they offer and help people to receive an accurate diagnosis. From advising patients on right diagnosis test to informally counselling them to cope with side effects, this sisterhood of "didis" has so far helped numerous patients across the country. More information on Bolo Didi is available at www.facebook.com/bolodidiTB.See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

This episode will describe the various problems faced by both patients and doctors in diagnosing TB. TB is tough to diagnose, and the difficulties only compound as the patients still do not have complete access to all the advanced diagnostics when TB is first suspected. With drug resistance increasing in the country, India needs to loosen these systems to ensure proper diagnosis of the patients. See sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.