Steroids no substitute for nutritious diet: Prof Kalinski
G. S. PAUL

“I haven’t seen a country whose people could be called as genetically weak. It is only the lack of nutritious and balanced diet which leads to deficiencies in body,” opined Prof Michael I. Kalinski.

Prof Kalinski, who works at Kent State University, Ohio, USA as a professor of exercise physiology, was in Chandigarh to deliver a series of lecture for physical education teachers and coaches.

Opposing the use of stimulants and anabolic steroids, Prof Kalinski highlighted their adverse effects on sport performance and on human body. He prescribed a diet rich in protein, including meat, poultry, fish, dairy products and cooked eggs.

It is pity that sportsperson use steroids to enhance their performance. Rather, they should concentrate on proper nutrition and training. “Let food be your medicine,” the professor said.

“The fight against doping is the top most priority for the International Olympic Committee. It is a question of ethics and health, linked to the fundamental principles of the Olympic movement, such as fair play,” he added.

To maintain a healthy lifestyle, Prof Kalinski stressed to take low-fat diet but cautioned against compromising on carbohydrates. “The big problem in the developed countries is obesity, a major cause behind several health problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer etc.,” he said.

Prof Kalinski also advocated the consumption of carbohydrates several hours prior to exercise, as it would help restore liver glycogen stores and muscle glycogen stores (if low).

Also, pre-exercise meal helps prevent hunger in athletes while they are performing. “One to 4.5 grams of carbohydrates/kg of body weight, consumed one to four hours prior to exercise, improves one’s performance by elevating blood glucose,” he suggested.

One should consume carbohydrates either throughout the exercise or 30 minutes before the anticipated time of fatigue. It helps to maintain blood glucose levels. Athletes should consume 7 to 10 g carbohydrates/kg to replace muscle glycogen stores during consecutive days of hard workouts. “The athletes who exercise hard daily (90 minutes or more) should consume 1.5 grams carbohydrates/kg after exercise and again two hours later,” he added.

Gen-Next ‘going up in smoke’: Survey 

AS the government moves to make tobacco companies to print pictorial and graphic warnings on the harmful effects of smoking on cigarette packets, health experts are worried over the younger generation getting addicted at an early age.

A survey among 2599 college students in Delhi, shows 2 per cent of them smoked their first cigarette before attaining even 10 years of age. The survey, conducted among the students of three colleges in the Capital, also revealed that 61 per cent of them smoked for the first time while they were between 16 and 20 years.

“It was also revealed that 24 per cent boys and 4 per cent girls among the surveyed are addicted to smoking,” says Dr V K Vijayan, vice-president of World Lung Foundation - South Asia (WLF-SA), who led the survey.

“The marginal age of teenage smokers has come down. High exposure to smoking activities, especially at TV, is responsible for the trend. It should stop showing the smoking and other tobacco usage as a glamorous activity,” says Dr Rakesh Mahajan, a member of WLF-SA.

“The parents, addicted to smoking, have an important role in this context. They should be careful about the bad effects of passive smoking,” says Dr Vijayan. That is one of the reasons the kids get attracted to smoking,” he says.

“Easy availability of tobacco in or near educational institutions must be curbed, if we want to deal with the situation,” Dr G R Khatri, president of WLF-SA, said. He quoted a survey by the NGO showing that tobacco products were available in 38 kiosks, out of total 184, in Delhi University Campus.

Smoking also reduces IQ levels, says a British weekly New Scientist report.

“Every system in the human body is affected by nicotine. This danger increases when it comes to the smoking by the girls. It may cause several disorder to their future pregnancy ,” Dr Mahajan says. “It may cause retardation of child growth, defective lungs and even asthma in the new-born child, Dr Vijayan adds. — PTI

Young Leadership Award for Chandigarh social activist

In recognition of the work done on tobacco control at the global level by Hemant Goswami, a social activist from Chandigarh, he has been selected to receive the 'Young Leadership Award' in tobacco control.

Hemant was presented the award at the "8th Asia Pacific Conference on Tobacco or Health" presently undergoing in Taipei, Taiwan, a website called Third Estate, said in a release.

Hemant has also been awarded young scholars award for the study done by him on "Tobacco in Movies and its Impact on Youth," conducted in association with WHO and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. — ANI

Nek Chand gets his due world over
Vishal Gulati

Nek Chand's world of fantasy, Rock Garden, which has put the City Beautiful on the world tourist map, will once again come alive next month as the US-based Nek Chand Foundation and the Chandigarh administration will hold a number of activities to celebrate the diamond jubilee of the garden.

Last year, the foundation had promised to be back in Chandigarh for participating in the culminating jubilee celebrations after promoting the Rock Garden throughout the world.

Tony Rajer, a trustee of the foundation, while answering some specific questions on the celebrations via e-mail, says: "Nearly 30 artists and connoisseurs from various countries are expected to participate in the five-day grand event from November 7 onwards.

"During the celebrations, an international folk art conference will be organised on November 7, 8 and 9 and cultural programmes on November 10 and 11.

"The aim of the celebrations is to give a chance to the connoisseurs to see this unique and awesome creation so that they can promote this concept in their own country," he says.

"For promoting the garden, exhibitions were held in Paris where Nek Chand was honoured with the Vermeil Medal of the City of Paris. In the UK, an exhibition of his works was held at the University of Liverpool. In New York, American Folk Art Museum showcased his sculptures to the gathering eager to see the Indian art. Similarly, photo exhibitions and lectures were organised by the foundation in various countries to promote the Rock Garden," Rajer says.

"We have 10 years of partnership with Nek Chand. Over this period, nearly 80 artists got training to make artefacts at the art park and they organised a number of shows in various countries," the trustee says.

Among those attending the celebrations are: Ann Oppenhimer, president, American Folk Art Society; Susan Crawley, art curator, High Museum, Atlanta; and Colin Rhodes from the University of Sydney, Australia.

Several experts from India, including Minhazz Majumdar, New Delhi, India and Emma Martin (UK); Bhawani S. Sharma from Jaipur; Surinder Bahga from Chandigarh; and Archana Chaudhary from Panchkula will deliver lectures during the celebrations.

Nek Chand, the curator of the Rock Garden, who turns 83 in December, hopes to make the festival memorable for one and all: For children there will be cultural activities and for the seniors a chance to learn.

"Such festivals give practical environment to the people and inspire the youth to use the waste in an aesthetic sense. It's not for nothing Chandigarh is called the City Beautiful," feels Nek Chand.

Shooting her way to glory
Akash Ghai

Asavari Tayal, a budding shooter from the city, has been creating ripples in the junior shooting arena of late.

Thirteen-year-old Asavasri surprised everyone by beating all her rivals in senior women category in 10-metre air pistol (NR) event to clinch top honours in the Chandigarh State Shooting Championship held at Patiala ki Rao shooting range at Sector 25 here last month.

Besides this, she also bagged a gold medal each in senior category in air rifle event and in 10-m air pistol sub-junior category during the competition.

She impressed the shooting aficionados by winning a total of six medals, including a silver medal each in 10-m air rifle (junior), .22 rifle (junior) and .22 rifle (senior).

Following in the footsteps of her father, Dharinder Tayal, a former national level shooter, Asavari took to the sport when she was 10 years old.

"I find shooting an interesting and a unique sport as it also helps in my academics. In fact, the sport helps in increasing my concentration level manifold, which helps a lot during studies", reasoned Asavari, who wants to become an engineer.

This young shooter aims to bring an Olympic medal for the country.

"To achieve my target, I have been putting in lot of hard work. I practice for two-and-a-half hours daily but I don't neglect my regular studies," said Asavari, who has set up a range at her house.

Last year, she won to honours in 10 m air pistol and air rifle events in inter school shooting competitions.

Asavari, who is a fan of international shooter Jaspal Rana, is equally good in skating. She also clinched some medals in a state-level skating competition.

Affairs get caught, sooner or later: Brad Pitt

Angelina Jolie need not worry about partner Brad Pitt cheating on her for he believes that people who have affairs always get caught.

Pitt was rumoured to have an affair with Jolie on the sets of their movie ‘Mr. and Mrs. Smith’. Shortly after the movie was premiered, he left his then wife, Jennifer Aniston, and set up a house with Angelina.

However, he told British magazine Cosmopolitan that he never cheated on his partner, and that it was not something he was likely to do as he’s convinced that he would be caught, sooner or later.

“I always have and I always will (be faithful). I don’t like to see couples having affairs on film sets - or anywhere,” Contactmusic quoted him, as telling the magazine.“I believe that it catches up with you,” he added. — ANI

Britney’s bizarre ways to lose weight

Troubled star Britney Spears has reportedly turned to special lollipops and asthma inhalers to lose weight.Reports say Spears is sucking special Hoodia lollies, which trick the brain into thinking that the stomach is filled and a chemical found in asthma medication.

The move came before the release of her comeback album ‘Blackout’ to be released in less than a month, reports Heat magazine.

Going by the buzz, Spears wants to slim down so that she looks best at the promotional appearances of her album.

However, Dr Halle Mir, from Los Angeles’ Cedars Sinai Hospital, has warned that the lollipops could cause mood swings, lower her blood sugar levels and raise her blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

The doctor also warned against the use of inhaler. — ANI

Shoppers miss festive spirit 
Municipal Corporation-traders rift to blame
Pradeep Sharma

Come festival season the city is dotted with shopping carnivals, melas etc. at various places. But it is the heart of city, Sector 17, which always hosts the ‘mother of all shopping fests’. Surprisingly this year the city centre (Sector 17) has nothing to offer the shoppers, as there would be no mega shopping festival. The alleged negative role of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) and the reported disunity among the traders seem to have taken its toll on the festival.

With company and franchisee showrooms ruling the roost in this premier market of the northern India, holding of the shopping festival had become a Herculean job over the years. A majority of the company and franchisee showrooms prefer to come out with individual gift schemes, rather than a joint gift, sponsored by some traders’ association. This move has sounded the death knell for the shopping festival, says JPS Kalra, a trader.

“The ground rent charged by the MCC and lack of major corporate sponsors have made the Sector 17 festival an unviable proposition.

Moreover, shoppers also want instant gifts and avoid waiting for couple of months for the mega prizes,” Kalra contends.

In fact, the holding of the shopping festival had run into rough weather last year as well with traders failing to unite for the joint festival. Miffed at the attitude of the business promotion council (BPC), a section of the traders had formed the trade promotion council (TPC), and had organised parallel shopping festivals.

Last year, too, the shopping festival had seen allegations and counter-allegations flying thick among the two trade promotion organisations.

“Organising shopping festivals is a thankless job as the organisers were under tremendous pressure to oblige some influential persons such as the police and administrative officers with free coupons. This, coupled with the organisation of mega fests, was quite contrary to the nature of businessmen, whose main aim is to sell their goods,” admits a member of the BPC.

In the wake of many irregularities, a dispute had arisen while awarding a major prize of a car last year bringing the shopping festival under a cloud.

The only major shopping festival in the city in the current festival season is at Sector 22-D. The festival started in September and would continue till December 31.

However, there are no mega bumper prizes this time as the exorbitant ground rent has forced the organisers to go in for the daily prizes. The MCC had reportedly fixed a ground rent of Rs 1.10 lakh besides a service tax of 12.36 per cent per month.

Corporation sources said holding shopping festival was a commercial activity and the civic body could not distinguish between different categories of commercial activities. A clear-cut policy for the renting of the space for commercial ventures was in place, the sources added.

The organisers earned lakhs of rupees from the sponsors besides making profits on the sales of their goods. If the corporation takes away a fraction of the profits by way of ground rent and advertisement, the traders should not resent it,” a senior functionary of the MCC added.

Relaxing the Army way
Saurabh Malik

What do rough & tough dudes of the Indian Army do by the way of taking a break? They go for an adventure trip.

A team of two officers, three junior commissioned officers and 10 other ranks from 63 Cavalry have just returned from a trekking expedition from Okhimath to Helang in Garhwal, Himalayas.

The regiment is the only armour unit to reach Decca in 1971. Whenever time and circumstances permit, the men go on exploration trips to rediscover potential and solace deep inside.

Ask commandant Col A.R.S. Kahlon and he elaborates: “More than relaxation, such adventure trips help you strengthen qualities of character, courage, comradeship, discipline and leadership. Even if you are out for 10 days, the break helps you in inculcating spirit of adventure; and scaling heights you hitherto thought were out of bounds”.

“As most of us spend our lives shuttling between work and home, the trek provides an exciting opportunity to absorb diverse flora and fauna - something that’s seen, but often ignored. To top it all, you get to meet wonderful and friendly locals still uncorrupted by the ways of the world,” says trek leader Major Ajay Dalal.

Giving details of the trip, he says the team negotiated a distance of 90 km on a route that took them over the Ghia Vinayak Pass at a height of 5,500 metres (16500 feet) situated in the Gangotri region of Garhwal, Himalayas. The prominent mountains, dominating the skyline in the vicinity are Chaukhamba and the mighty Nanda Devi peaks.

The trek was tough undoubtedly. At times as the young soldiers moved ahead the track of cobbled stones disappeared from beneath their feet and they found themselves facing walls of dense growth. And then, there was the rain and the rarefied oxygen that made the trip all the more breathtaking. But as Major Dalal says: “It is worth it”.

Well, you don’t have to be in the Army or even a dude to go on such adventure trips. With Dasehra vacations just round the corner pack your sneakers and woollens, hop on a bus (or a car, a taxi, whatever takes your fancy) reach Garhwal and go trekking. Or else head for such treks nearer home, the more popular one being Kalka to Shimla via Chail and Kufri. Some of the old tracks have simply disappeared, but you can always walk along the road meandering its way through mountains, and enjoy the peace, solitude and bounties of nature.

It’s ‘mancation’ for men

What do you call a vacation wherein a man sets out by himself, sans his female companion? Well, here’s a new word — ‘mancation’.

The term was coined by actor Vince Vaughn in the film, ‘The Breakup’, wherein the protagonist splits up from his partner and wants to get away, without his female friend.

Since then, the idea’s taken off to such an extent that some men have been on holidays without a company of fair sex.

Glossy magazine, the Men’s Health, has reported that male-to-male bonding had a lot of benefits. “We’re strong advocates of the benefits of spending time with your mates. It is a male way of expressing emotions, however limited they may be,” Ian Cockerill, deputy editor of the magazine, said.

“For women travellers, there are organised and escorted tours. On the other hand, men, Australian men in particular, are more likely to do it spontaneously rather than taking up an organised tour,” he added. And to give men a strong flavour of what ‘mancation’ is all about, American Mike Sprifke has founded the website,http://www.mancation.com.

For Sprifke, the intention of the mancation is not to get away from female company but to fulfil masculine needs.
“Mancations tend to be centered around activities that are testosterone driven. (It’s about) doing things that wives and girlfriends would not find appealing,” he said. — ANI

‘Chak De!’ scores Down Under

It came as no surprise when Shimit Amin’s “Chak De! India”, a gritty tale of Indian women hockey players that also starred 90 Australian players and over 9,000 Australian extras, won the Best Film Award at the 5th Australian Indian Film Festival gala night in Sydney on Thursday.

Indian heartthrob Akshaye Khanna received the Best Performance Award for his role in “Gandhi My Father” at the glittering ceremony hosted for the first time at the Museum of Contemporary Arts, situated on the Harbour foreshore overlooking the iconic Opera House.

The awards were chosen by an esteemed group of Australian film critics, including Peter Thompson (Showtime), Margaret Pomeranz (ABC TV At The Movies), Nell Schofield (Channel 9 Sunday Show), Marc Fennell (Triple J), Adrienne McKibbons (Metro Magazine) and Ian Taylor (ABC TV).

Back home, “Chak de! India” has won applause from audiences and critics alike.

“I am encouraged to do something different. ‘Chak de! India’ has been great for Indian audiences at home and abroad,” Amin said.

He disagreed that it was “a middle-class film”. “It is a nationalist or patriotic film that crosses all boundaries and embraces all. It just took over India! Seeing ‘Chak de!’ placards at cricket matches has been very flattering for the film. There is this ‘Chak de! India’ spirit in the air.” What led Amin to make a women’s sport film? “It is a sports film that portrays the country. Five years ago, the Indian women’s hockey team had won the Commonwealth Games, but they didn’t get much attention for their feat.

The game has low profile in India and there is less support and money for hockey. Jaideep Sahni, who wrote the script, felt if this movie did work, something positive would happen.” Among all hockey-playing countries, why did Amin come to shoot in Australia? “It is such an athletic country and probably has one of the highest numbers of women in sports. Coupled with it, the weather, language and the line producer, MG Distribution, helped me opt for Australia,” Amin said.

The crew and cast spent nearly three months shooting in Melbourne and Sydney. “The enthusiasm and passion of a great group of multicultural people we worked with was phenomenal. It built a great community between film and sports people. The Australian Film Commission was really inviting and that makes it easier to work.” Shimin also thanks Australians for accepting to lose in the final match in the film. “They were gracious and sportsmanlike in their defeat.” For Amin, story is always secondary. “I really go for characters in my film.

As in ‘Ab Tak Chhappan’, I relate to characters and script. In ‘Chak de! India’, the script was terrific. We just wanted to make something pretty grounded and that honesty has come through in the film.” Actor Sagarika Ghatge, who puts her cricketer fiancé in place in the film, said: “I really felt that hockey is not looked up in our country and what Preeti Sabharwal (the character’s name) did is how I felt, as the true sportsperson.”

“In fact, we underwent three-month hockey training session prior to the commencement of the shooting. We learnt a lot from Australian players,” she said.

“I have some wonderful memories of the time spent in Melbourne, where shopping and cuisine is great. We didn’t get to see much of Sydney, so I am hoping to explore it in the next few days,” she added.

The Sydney festival, which has writer and director Yash Chopra as its patron, is attended by over 40,000 people each year. — IANS

More than a Messiah

While most private hospitals are known for their ‘mercenary’ this Mohali hospital has become a Messiah for these poor children, discovers Arun Sharma

Lending a ‘good Samaritan’ touch to their efforts are the doctors at Grecian Hospital, Mohali. A multi-speciality private hospital, it has decided to treat 13 children whose parents cannot afford the huge expenses that these major surgeries require.

Their mantra is simple. “We believe it is necessary to save these lives,” said Dr (Mrs) S S Samra at the hospital.

The parents of these children, who come from the economically weaker strata of society, have made a heroic effort to raise money for their children as they cannot afford to pay for these life-saving surgeries, required to save the lives of their little ones.

Two-year-old Manjot tires easily. She has the curiosity and delight of a toddler but is unable to keep up with other children her age. Diagnosed with a large hole in the main artery of her heart she urgently needs surgery, which will help her run around with her little friends. Her father, a tailor in Manikpur Sarif village near Kharar, could arrange only Rs 25,000 out of the needed Rs 65,000.

One and a half year old Arun is a ‘blue baby’. He requires Rs 65,000 for his treatment but the family could only manage Rs 35,000.

Little Gurdeep (2) suffers from DORV. His father, a village labourer can only contribute Rs 5000 as against the required Rs 65,000.

There are 11 other children, Baby Harleen, two brothers Iqbal (12) and Jaswinder (11), Hira Lal (10), Baby Manjeet (7), Gurpreet (12), Gurkirat, Baby Lovleen (2) Baby Harleen (18 months) and infant Navneet, who is just 3-month-old. They all require life-saving surgery and an amount of Rs 5,60,000 is still required for these children.

A team of specialists arrives from Narayana Hrudayala, Bangalore next week to examine the young ones.

Though the hospital has decided to provide treatment to these children, donors, too, are welcome to come forward to contribute for the surgery, says Dr Samra.

Donors can contact on phone number 9855070390. 

Shades of womanhood explored
Gayatri Rajwade

Laaga Chunri Mein Daag is all about or rather only about woman power. The three leading ladies of the film also help keep the film buoyant with their stellar performances. It is, in fact, these performances that make the film worth its salt. Jaya Bachchan, playing mother to Rani Mukerji and Konkana Sen Sharma, in threesome togetherness, makes the viewer realise that acting has undergone sea changes as each 'character' delivers her nuances with understated ease and maturity. Speaking about the film, the threesome share their passions and masti moments.

How did this film happen and what made you decide on doing it?

Jaya Bachchan: Too many things, mainly because of the people involved the producer, the director, the script, the story and then the role. Also Pradeep has a great eye for detail and what I like about his aesthetics is that it is so Indian and that is endearing. Today you do not see filmmakers depicting India, its culture, language, clothes and tradition the way it should be. I think I love the way he does that with perfection. When I was working with him I felt I had gone 30 years back and I felt I was working with Hrishikesh Mukherjee or Gulzar that's the kind of pleasure I got.

Rani Mukerji: I think the beauty of the script is that it talks about a strong female character and in a slightly unconventional way because she takes a decision in her life at a point where its really important for her and she doesn't go back on that and she isn't ashamed of the thing that she has done and the very fact that the script talks about the eldest daughter trying to be the son of he house is something that lot of girls will relate to.

Konkana Sen Sharma: I had got a call from Aditya Chopra and he had asked me about Aaja Nachle (starring Madhuri Dixit). I was most excited and I grabbed that opportunity. Then I got a second call asking if I was interested in hearing the subject of Pradeep Sarkar's next film. I was very excited to hear that I was being considered for a role because I loved Parineeta. I loved my part and I think any actor would have loved to do this role.

What do you think about the music of Laaga Chunari Mein Daag. Which is your favourite?

JB: Hum to aise hai bhaiya.

RM: I wouldn't say that I have any favourite number in the film but I liked hum to aise hai bhaiya because that's the song with which we started the film and it was a lot of fun shooting it. Another favourite track is laaga chunari mein daag, the title track, because we had loads of fun shooting that song. Sabyasachi was going mad doing the costumes and I remember how he had laid out some fifty shoes in my make-up room and got some hundred costumes for that song and we finally used probably four to five and he was quite disappointed. This is after Dada (Pradeep Sarkar) kept on saying we want to shoot the whole song in just one towel!

KSS: I think what's great about the music is that most songs have very different flavours from each other so it will appeal to many different kinds of people. But I think hum to aise hai bhaiya is probably the best track because it reflects the spirit of Benaras, of the two sisters. It is the beginning of the film so it sets the tone for so many memories.

Can you relate to your character in real life?

KSS: I do relate to the character of Chutki a lot. By and large she is someone whose attitude I like, whose vivacity I like and I would like to think that I am like that in some ways.

There is a very strong sibling bond shown in the film. Do you share a similar bond with your sibling in real life?

KSS: I do have an older sister and we are very close. My sister is 10 years older then me and in the film Rani is supposed to be just a couple of years older then me. Badki is a bit of a mother, tries to be a little bossy with Chutki sometimes and these elements echo in the relationship I have with my sister. The scene in which Badki tells Chutki that they have picked her up from the garbage dump is something I remember my own sister telling me. I think sisters just become friends. I am very lucky to have a sister and so are Badki and Chutki.

What was it like working with each other?

JB: This is my second film with Konkana. Before this I did a film called Sunglass in Bengali with her. She is playing my daughter in this film so it was easier because I started shooting for this one immediately after I finished Sunglass so there was continuity. It just required me to change the language the emotions stayed on.

KSS: I loved working with her. She is just fabulous, so warm and so gracious. In Benaras, in the beginning, I was a bit lost and she really took me under her wing and I feel so grateful. She was very affectionate and caring and I wouldn't even say I enjoyed working with her I just enjoyed being with her on and off the sets. We would have dinner together or whatever it is.

Can you tell us something about your styling in the film?

JB: The clothes were tailored keeping the character in mind so I don't think I can wear them otherwise because it was meant more for the mother who lives in Benaras, women who dress like that. But what was wonderful about wearing those clothes was that they made to suit the comfort of the person wearing them.

RM: There are three distinct look in the film for me and I could not have done that without my designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee. I think he is an asset to the film and he is just amazing as a designer. This entire Natasha look with bright red lipstick was completely Sabayasachi's idea. At first we were hesitant but I think after we did this it kind of gelled well with the character now when I see the posters.

KSS: My clothes are designed by Manish Malhotra and Sabyasachi, who are simply the best. The first half of the film is set in Benaras and Sabyasachi did my clothes while in the second half of the film where I am in Bombay, the look has been designed by Manish. I personally like wearing Patiala salwars and short kurtis so I was comfortable in Sabyasachi clothes. I was very hesitant and unsure with the glamorous side. I kept telling Manish to make the dress a little longer or give me sleeves and even to make the neckline higher. Today I have got so many compliments for what he has made me wear. I don't know if I will wear them off screen but I think it does look great so I am glad he pushed the envelope with me.

What was it like working with Abhishek?

JB: I have done a Bengali film where he had a small role in which he played my son. I did Drona where again he has played my son. I think there is a tremendous comfort level working with him.

GSK malaria vaccine in final stages

The clinical trial of a malaria vaccine among African babies has shown promising results.

The vaccine by Britain-based pharmaceutical company Glaxo SmithKline (GSK) has been in development and trial for past 20 years.

The jab presently known as RTS,S and tentatively brand-named Mosquirix was tested on about 214 infants in Mozambique where malaria is common. The tests showed that the vaccine gave a high level of protection and was safe.

The risk of infants catching malaria reduced by 65 per cent three months after the vaccine was administered, reported the online edition of BBC News.

“We have plenty of vaccines against viruses and bacteria but this will be the first vaccine against a parasitic infection in humans,” Joe Cohen, a GlaxoSmithKline scientist who has spent 20 years on the project, said.

The scientists would now conduct a bigger trial, which would begin next year and involve 10,000 children across sub-Saharan Africa. If successful, the vaccine would be licensed in 2011. It would mark a significant step forward in the fight against malaria.

Malaria is caused by a parasite called plasmodium, which is transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes.

More than 1 million people die of malaria every year, mostly infants, young children and pregnant women, and most of them are in Africa. The disease also affects Asia, Latin America, the Middle-East and parts of Europe. — IANS