VIENNA, 22 May (UN Information Service) – The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) concluded its 122nd session in Vienna on Friday. Upon the closing of the session, the INCB President, Dr. Viroj Sumyai, emphasized the importance of compliance of countries with the three international drug control treaties and the grave consequences of non-compliance for public health and well-being.

In the course of the session, the Board analysed the drug control situation on a country-by-country basis and reviewed compliance by State Parties with the three international drug control treaties. The Board examined the findings of a recent country mission and agreed on recommendations to be made to the respective Government to strengthen their national drug control system. It also reviewed the implementation by Governments of mission recommendations made over recent years.

As part of its mandate towards ensuring the availability of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals for licit uses while preventing their diversion to illicit channels and abuse, the Board reviewed the licit movement of these substances, as well as the supply of and demand for opiates for medical and scientific purposes.  In accordance with its mandate under the 1988 Convention, the Board also reviewed the licit movement and preventing diversion of precursors.

The Board held in-depth discussions on the non-medical and non-scientific use of cannabis, which did not comply with the drug control conventions, and the dramatic serious consequences that non-compliance can have on public health, particularly among young people.

The Board also considered the opioid overdose crisis faced in a number of countries and efforts to address the situation, including the Board’s own new initiative, the Operational Partnerships to Interdict Opioids’ Illicit Distribution and Sales (OPIOIDS) Project.

As part of its commitment to concerted international action towards effectively addressing and countering the world’s drug problem, the Board held consultations with the President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Chair of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO).

During the session, INCB also commenced work on its Annual Report for 2018. The report will be finalized during the Board’s 123rd session and will include a thematic chapter on the use of cannabis. The report will also be supplemented by a special report on availability of controlled drugs for medical and scientific purposes.

The Board’s next session will be held in November 2018, during which the Board will mark its 50th anniversary.

The Vienna-based International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) is an independent body, established by the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, mandated to monitor and support governments’ compliance with the three international drug control treaties. Its 13 members are elected by the Economic and Social Council to serve in their individual capacities for a term of five years.

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Zulekha Hospital launches ‘No More Excuses’,a community initiative to save lives

Dubai, UAE, 26 December, 2016: A new healthcare campaign designed to help reduce the incidences of heart attacks and strokes is urging UAE residents to stop making excuses and start taking responsibility for their health and wellbeing.

The No More Excuses initiative launched today by Zulekha Hospital and campaign partners Dubai Ambulance and Dubai Sports Council is supported by the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Community Sports Initiative,  Bharath Thakur Artistic Yoga, VLCC, Air Arabia, Zee TV, and the Football Centre, alongside fitness partners and has been created to make the transition from procrastination to action.

Zanubia Shams, Co-Chairperson of Zulekha Hospitals, said: “Some of the biggest factors that contribute to early onset heart attacks and strokes are stress and every day anxieties, coupled with lack of exercise and relaxing downtime, unhealthy eating patterns and for some, smoking.  We know the pressures that everyone faces in work and at home and we understand that often our own personal health and wellbeing takes a back seat.

“Our doctors have all seen patients in difficult living situations and have witnessed too many tragic stories that could have been prevented.  We have devised this campaign to help change mindsets and behaviours, and as a result, reduce the incidences of heart-related illnesses.”

Currently, one in three people in the UAE are overweight and diabetes is increasing.  A new Global Burden of Disease, Infections and Risks (GBD) study commissioned by medical journal The Lancet reveals that four of the top five causes of death in the UAE in 2015 were heart-related.

While motor vehicle road injuries took the second spot, ischemic heart disease was the number one (21.6% of total deaths), haemorrhagic stroke was third, followed by diabetes and ischemic stroke.

In the first phase of the campaign, Zulekha Hospital is encouraging everyone to take advantage of a free appointment with one of their specialist cardiologists in Dubai or Sharjah, who will oversee free ECG, blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol checks.

Depending on the person’s weight and health history, they may also be offered additional healthcare options.

In early 2017, the campaign will kick start a series of sporting activities, available to all UAE residents, so they can become responsible for their wellbeing and get active in football, volleyball and basketball games.  A community-wide Walkathon is also being arranged to open up accessible health activities to as many people as possible.

Taher Shams, Managing Director of Zulekha Hospitals added: “The aim of ‘No More Excuses’ is to make fitness a part of everyone’s lifestyle.  Eating more and moving less will result in a weak heart and we want to help change that across the Emirates.

“This will be a year-long initiative and a movement driven by our community.  We plan to shed light on some of the excuses people typically hold on to in order to avoid changing unhealthy habits and we want to show the UAE that small, daily tweaks to their lifestyle can make a huge difference.  We urge every organisation and institution to join us and send out this united message.”

UAE residents are encouraged to make their free consultation appointment with the team of highly respected specialist cardiologists today by visiting promise.zulekhahospitals.com or calling 600 524 442.

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~ The young technology start-up raises close to USD 400,000 (Rs. 2.5 crore) in Angel Round funding, brings in successful entrepreneurs and funds on board as investors~

~Free for users, a web based platform, YourDOST is now made available as a free to download mobile app on android platform too~

Bangalore/Hyderabad (India), 4^th November, 2015 – YourDOST, a technology start-up aiming to establish a unique platform for mental well-being and emotional support, has completed its first round of Angel funding. The venture which has been operational since December 2014 through the web portal (www.yourdost.com), offers complete support to people looking to discuss any kind of emotional issues by providing them instant online access to experts along with the much required anonymity. YourDOST is also available to people on mobile now with the launch of its mobile app on android platform (bit.ly/YDandroid) and available for free download from Android Play Store.

Commenting on the venture, Richa Singh, Co-Founder & CEO, YourDOST.com, said “With YourDOST we aim to create awareness and reduce the stigma associated with mental wellness in our society. We all face problems, stress, and anxiety at some point in our life but mostly we are not willing to talk about these fearing social implications, being judged and for the fear of being judged. We are confident that technology combined with empathy and right kind of experts will go a long way in helping people going through a various emotional and mental challenges and equipping them to better deal with it.”

Bootstrapped for initial period of its operations, YourDOST has raised close to USD 400,000 (Rs. 2.5 crores) in Angel round to fund its marketing and expansion needs. Owing to the uniqueness of the idea, the start-up has been able to attract established entrepreneurs and professionals like Phanindra Sama (Redbus Founder), Aprameya Radhakrishna (TaxiForSure Founder), Aneesh Reddy (Capillary Founder), Nagesh Grandhi (Hyderabad Angels) and many more into its investor portfolio.

Started by Richa Singh, an IIT-Guhawati alumunus in partnership with Puneet Manuja, IIM-B alumunus and Prakhar Verma, a computer science graduate from BMSCE, Bangalore, in last 10 months of its operations, YourDOST has received tremendous response from the market with close to 70,000 users so far and the number growing at about 40% month on month. With 10,000 registered users currently, a team of 75+ experts service around 300 one to one interactions on a daily basis.

Adding further, Richa said “We are delighted with the response received from the users so far. We have received very good traction from the users by word of mouth and it is very encouraging for a young team like us. With the first round of funding in place and having such experienced people on board with us as investors and mentors, we are certain that YourDOST will benefit immensely from their association and guidance”

YourDOST – addressing the need gap:

Access and awareness towards mental and emotional wellbeing is very restricted in India and comes with several taboos associated with it. Here are some facts highlighting this challenge:

• According to government estimates, 1 in 5 people in India need counselling, either psychological or psychiatric
• For an estimated 70 million+ people living with psychosocial problems and disabilities, there are less than 50 government mental health establishments.
• According to a report by WHO in 2011, 1 out of 7 people in India i.e. 15% of Indian population was suffering from depression in 2015, this has seen an alarming rise with 20% of Indian population being depressed today.
• 50% of corporate India is suffering from chronic stress. In fact as per a survey by ASSOCHAM earlier this year, highlights that the rate of emotional problems such as anxiety and depression has increased by 45-50% among corporate employees in the last eight years.
• According to medical experts, 4 in 5 people suffering from severe mental ailment in India choose not to treat it which causes early death by at least 15-20 years as compared to mentally healthy people

Dealing with societal pressure, pressure to perform and excel at work, family and marital issues, stress of studies, constant lifestyle comparison with the peer group due to over exposure to social media and several other factors have led to severe disturbances in our emotional stability. While the stress is on a constant rise, discussing it openly or dealing with it medically is still a taboo in our country.

This huge need gap and Richa Singh’s personal experience of a friend losing her life at IIT due to placement pressure led to birth of YourDOST to provide people with convenient yet anonymous access to experts consisting of life coaches, psychologists and other experienced individuals. Through this online platform which is available as a free service both through web portal and mobile app, users can choose to get into a live chat, find answers over email or book an appointment with the expert of their choice.

YourDOST team strongly believes that awareness at this stage is key; people need to know and acknowledge the importance of mental wellness, then comes the next step of seeking help.

About YourDOST.com:

YourDOST is one of its kind online emotional wellness platform to get support from experts consisting of life coaches, psychologists and other experienced individuals. Launched in December 2014, YourDOST is available to people via its web platform (www.yourdost.com) and also on mobile through its recently launched mobile app on android platform (bit.ly/YDandroid). YourDOST allows instant access to users to a team of 75+ experts and share their problems through an online interface be it a live chat or email query or even book one on one interaction with the expert of their choice. The key aspect of this venture is that people are kept completely anonymous throughout the platform.

YourDOST aims to reduce the stigma attached to seeking help for mental wellness in our country and with the use of technology wants to make expert help widely and instantly available to people looking for emotional and mental wellbeing.

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