community programme on the occasion of National Nutrition Week. Cardiologist Dr Jagdish Hiremath spoke on the issue of hypertension and lifestyle-related diseases. High blood pressure is prevalent in about 13 per cent of the population and is on the rise. A better lifestyle through weight control,correct diet,exercise,salt-restriction and leading a stress-free life can prevent hypertension. Dr Geeta Dharmatti,President of IDA Pune Chapter,also announced the hosting of the 46th national conference from December 12 to 14 this year. The theme of the conference will be New Paradigms in Nutrition Practice and Research.

Milky Way

Yashoda Human Milk Bank was inaugurated recently at DY Patil Medical College and Hospital by Bhagyashree Patil,Vice-Chairman,Dr DY Patil Vidyapeeth Society,Rotary district governor Lata Subraidu,President of Rotary club of Mumbai Ketan Malkan,and others dignitaries. Dr Sharad Agarkhedkar,Head,Department of Paediatrics,DY Patil Medical College,explained the importance of human milk bank. Dr Deepak Dave,who has been involved in starting human milk banks at various hospitals,also spoke on the occasion. Mayor of PCMC,Mohini Lande Patil,was the chief guest at the inauguration and appreciated the effort.

Truth about Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is a preventable disease,yet it kills 2,75,000 women every year nearly all of them in low-resource countries. India bears one-quarter of the worlds burden of cervical cancer,which kills an estimated 72,825 Indian women annually. Recently the Indian Parliaments Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare released a report critical of a cervical cancer vaccine demonstration project conducted in India from 2009 to 2010. It was part of a four-country project to explore suitable vaccine delivery strategies and help provide evidence for national health authorities to make informed decisions about the potential benefits and challenges of introducing vaccines against human papilloma virus (HPV),the primary cause of cervical cancer.

Compiled by Anuradha Mascarenhas