The botched case of Dr Muhammad Haneef

14/10/2008 0 Comments read Health & Science, Migration

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 2007- 2008 (IANS): Dr Muhammad Haneef, an Indian doctor working in Gold Coast (Queensland), was wrongly accused and detained on terrorism charges linked to the Glasgow international airport attack in 2007.

On 24^th December 2010, he received a formal apology, and substantial compensation from the Australian Government. In a statement, the Australian Federal Police said that it “acknowledges that it was mistaken and that Dr Haneef was innocent of the offence of which he was suspected. The Commonwealth apologises and hopes that the compensation to be paid to Dr Haneef will mark the end of an unfortunate chapter and allow Dr Haneef to move forward with his life and career.”

Earlier, The Clarke Inquiry Report 21st November 2008, had cleared him of any wrongdoing and concluded that mistakes had been made. The litany of errors by the Australian police and the government had not only stained the reputation and career prospects of the young doctor, but it also had a major backlash on Indian doctors in Australia.

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Vaccine therapies need boost, say scientists

14/04/2008 0 Comments read Health & Science

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 14.04.2008 (IPS): While millions of children’s lives have been saved as a result of a successful worldwide campaign to boost vaccination programmes, governments across the world are failing in following through on their commitments to health aid and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

‘’Wealthy countries such as the G8 members continue to content themselves with largely symbolic gestures. We have to make sure that the pledge made by governments (on MDGs) is followed,” eminent medical scientist Gustav Nossal told IPS.

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Chronic Diseases Bigger Threat than Terrorism

29/02/2008 0 Comments read Health & Science

By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 29.02.2008 (IPS): International health experts and activists are calling for immediate global action to avert the looming epidemic of preventable chronic diseases which will kill 388 million people in the next decade, threatening economies in the developed and developing worlds.

Poor diet, physical inactivity and tobacco use are said to be contributing to preventable chronic diseases including heart disease/stroke, diabetes, cancers and chronic lung disease responsible for nearly 60 percent of the world’s
deaths.

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