Use of unsterilised, reused syringes still rampant

The work of Marc Koska, OBE and his charity, SafePoint Trust, was recently featured in an article in The Times of India

PUNE: An average person receives 3 to 5 injections per year, and more than 50 per cent of these are being administered by unsterilised and reused syringes, said Marc Koska, CEO-founder, SafePoint Trust, UK. Koska was in the city to brief mediapersons about the rapid strides his organisation has made to address the biggest man-made threat of re-used syringes.

Although Union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss agreed that from April 30, 2009, all Central government hospitals under CGHS will completely switch to auto-disable syringes, complying with the existing ISO standard across all sectors, it remains a Herculean task to achieve the desired objective, said Koska.

"After the successful nation-wide campaign launched in November 2008, the decision to use AD syringes was hailed by one and all. However, the reality is very bitter. India is plagued by its own set of problems. On the one hand, health of the poor population, especially living in slums, are under severe threat as quacks mostly use re-used syringes. Lack of education, unhygienic conditions and poverty contribute to their misery," said Koska.

To read the full article, click here.
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Industrial Design News

Marc Koska's story featured in a recent blog post of Amsterdam-based industrial design consultancy, Bluelarix Designworks. Here's an excerpt:

Despite the fact many people would imagine something extravagant and expensive, when hearing the word “design”, real design thinking is not about this, we believe. Sometimes we hear, why designing things if everything is already made?

Well this time we would like to introduce to you the story of Marc Koska and his reasons to re-invent the syringe. Reuse of syringes, all too common in under-funded clinics, kills 1.3 million each year. Many of them kids. In 1984 Koska read a newspaper article predicting the transmission of HIV through the reuse of needles and syringes. Koska was fascinated by the problem and vowed to do something about it. He studied how drug addicts used syringes in the UK, went to Geneva to learn about Public Health Policy, visited several syringe factories, studied plastic injection moulding, and read everything available on the transmission of viruses like HIV.

Click here for the full article.
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The Climb Tanzania 2010 is launched

On 26th May, The Climb Tanzania 2010 was launched in conjunction with Mountain Range Restaurants' 5th anniversary celebrations at The Swan in Forest Row.

Photos by Hy Money. See also Hy Money's photos on Facebook.

Background

Marc Koska OBE has worked tirelessly over the last 25 years on Global Healthcare with a particular focus on Injection Safety. After spending years researching the syringe industry, Marc invented an AD (Auto Disable) syringe, the K1 - that physically prevents re-use. To-date Marc and the K1 have been credited with saving well over 9 Million lives but Marc knew from the start that product alone would not stop this silent epidemic, so Marc set up The SafePoint Trust in 2006. The main purpose of SafePoint is to use information to solve this very basic healthcare need, and this is done by delivering hard-hitting public awareness campaigns. Marc and SafePoint work hard to ensure that the public are educated with this lifesaving message, coupled with extensive lobbying for legislation change at ministerial level ensures that this basic human right is restored.

Outline

Marc Koska OBE and The SafePoint Trust would like to invite you to support them on:

The Climb 2010 Kilimanjaro, Tanzania - Rising 4800m above the East African plains, 270km from the shores of the Indian Ocean and measuring up to 40km across, Kilimanjaro is a bizarre geological oddity, the tallest freestanding mountain in the world and one formed, shaped, eroded and scarred by the twin forces of fire and ice. It is actually a volcano, or rather three volcanoes, with the two main peaks, Kibo and Mawenzi, the summits of two of those volcanoes.

Five team members will climb the mountain armed with 20 flags – each flag will be fully branded with a logo from each sponsor. Day seven will see them at the peak of the mountain, at this point a photographer will ensure each flag is photographed capturing the stunning view and the euphoric atmosphere of the team.

On the teamʼs return the UK sponsors will get a framed glossy photograph of their flag at the peak. Along with this your company will feature heavily in all publicity around the event including a press release, national and regional newspapers, regional TV and radio stations and leading business / lifestyle magazines. The whole event will be posted on facebook, twitter and will have its own blog. Sponsors can also make their logo available to feature on the kit of the climbers.

A one-off donation of £5,000 to buy a flag is all that is required and 90% of this donation / sponsorship money will enable us to give Two Million syringes to Tanzania. SafePoint will present the container of syringes to the Hon Prof. David Mwakyusam, Heath Minister of Tanzania once they have finished the climb.

Why Tanzania?

Tanzania are at the forefront of safe healthcare in Africa, they are to become one of only two countries converted to using AD syringes in the ECSA Region. With their policy already in place, trained healthcare workers and a public information film donated by SafePoint they are ready to reduce country medical costs and ease the HIV / Hepatitis disease burden. More importantly with this donation we will ensure they have enough product to stock the 26 regions at the start of this initiative.

Facts and figures on unsafe healthcare:

• Each and every year due to unsafe injections there are:
• 23,000 HIV Infections
• 1,000,000 Hepatitis C Infections
• 21,000,000 Hepatitis B Infections
• RESULTING IN 1,300,000 DEATHS EACH YEAR (Source: WHO World Health Organisation)
• Some 17 billion injections are given each year, and 7 billion of these are unsafe medical injections (Source: Hutin 2003)
• Malaria kills 1,000,000 - so this silent epidemic kills more people each year (Source: WHO World Health Organisation)
• In Africa 20 million medical injections contaminated with blood from a patient with HIV are administered every year (Source: Reid 2009)
• At least 50% of injections given were unsafe (Source: WHO World Health Organisation)
• A syringe is used on average 7 times in the developing world
• Every 24 seconds a child dies as a result of an unsafe injection

Marc Koska OBE launches The Climb Tanzania 2010

Further information

Mountain Range Restaurants are supporting The SafePoint Trust on their Climb 2010. Mountain Range also celebrate their five year anniversary this year in conjunction with this SafePoint will send five people to climb Kilimanjaro raising money to donate syringes to Tanzania.

http://www.marckoska.com/
http://www.safepointtrust.org/

You can reach the SafePoint Team on: 01825 713722 or via email: info@safepointtrust.org
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Marc Koska OBE Launches Safe Injection Project at Mountain Range Restaurants’ 5th Anniversary

Ginny Simpson, Clare Beale, Marc and Anna Koska
(photo by Hy Money)

Mountain Range Restaurants celebrate their 5th Anniversary at The Swan, Forest Row, whilst supporting Marc Koska’s local charity, The SafePoint Trust.

Sponsored climb of Mount Kilimanjaro announced to make Tanzania a safe injection country.

Forest Row, East Sussex - Marc Koska OBE and his charity, The SafePoint Trust, recently launched an exciting new project for Tanzania at The Swan Mountain Range Restaurant in Forest Row during Mountain Range’s 5th anniversary celebrations.

Generously supported by David Downard, Mountain Range Restaurants CEO, guests were warmly invited to congratulate the company for a successful 5 years in business as well as to celebrate Marc Koska’s achievements in global healthcare and to support his charity The SafePoint Trust on their next venture: “The Climb Tanzania 2010”.

A team of three mothers from East Sussex have taken up the challenge to climb Mount Kilimanjaro to raise enough money (£100,000) to enable The SafePoint Trust to donate 2 million AD (Auto Disable) syringes to Tanzania. This will enable Tanzania to kick start this safe injection healthcare project and so become a safe injection country. They plan to present the donation to Tanzania’s minister for Health and Social Welfare, Prof David Mwakyusathe, in person shortly after they finish the climb, which is set to take place at the end of October 2010. It is likely to take about 7 days to reach the summit. The climbers, who will very quickly have to get used to high altitudes, are:

• Anna Koska (Marc’s wife and SafePoint Supporter)
• Ginny Simpson (SafePoint)
• Clare Beale (SafePoint Supporter)
  

Fund raising

The SafePoint Trust is encouraging local businesses to buy a flag for £5,000 each. All flags will journey up to the summit of 19,365 ft and be photographed with the climbers, capturing their euphoric moment. Those businesses which buy flags will of course feature heavily in all publicity that surrounds the climb, since collectively, by donating 2 Million syringes to Tanzania, they will ensure that a total of 700,000 people will receive safe injections.

David Downard with Marc Koska
(photo by Hy Money)

Why Tanzania?

Tanzania is at the forefront of safe healthcare in Africa and is to become one of only two countries converted to using AD syringes in the ECSA Region (Eastern, Central and Southern Africa). With their policy already in place, trained healthcare workers and a public information film produced and donated by SafePoint, the country is ready to reduce its medical costs and ease its HIV/Hepatitis disease burden. More importantly, with this donation in place, Tanzania will have sufficient AD syringes to stock all 26 regions throughout the entire country from the very start of this initiative.

Facts and figures on unsafe healthcare

• Each and every year due to unsafe injections there are:

o 23,000 HIV Infections
o 1,000,000 Hepatitis C Infections
o 21,000,000 Hepatitis B Infections
o Resulting in 1,300,000 deaths each year
(Source: WHO World Health Organisation)

• Some 17 billion medical injections are given each year, and 7 billion of these are unsafe
(Source: Hutin 2003)

• Malaria kills 1,000,000 - so this silent epidemic – unsafe injections - kills even more people each year
(Source: WHO World Health Organisation)

• In Africa, 20 million medical injections, contaminated with blood from a patient with HIV, are administered every year
(Source: Reid 2009)

• At least 50% of injections given, globally, are unsafe
(Source: WHO World Health Organisation)

• A syringe is used on average 7 times in the developing world

• Every 24 seconds, a child dies as a result of an unsafe injection

For more information about Mountain Range Restaurants, visit: http://www.mountainrangerestaurants.co.uk

About Marc Koska OBE and The SafePoint Trust

Marc Koska OBE has worked tirelessly over the last 25 years on global healthcare with a particular focus on injection safety. After spending years researching the syringe industry, Marc invented an AD (Auto Disable) syringe - the K1 - that physically prevents re-use. To date, Marc and the K1 have been credited with saving well over 9 million lives, but Marc knew from the start that product alone would not stop this silent epidemic. So he founded The SafePoint Trust in 2006. The main purpose of SafePoint is to use information to solve this very basic healthcare need. This is done by delivering hard-hitting public awareness campaigns. Marc and SafePoint work hard to ensure that the public are educated with this lifesaving message, coupled with extensive lobbying for legislative changes at ministerial level, to ensure that this basic human right is restored. For more information, visit: http://www.marckoska.com and http://www.safepointtrust.org

For more information, please contact:

Ginny Simpson
SafePoint Trust UK
The Granary
Pippingford
East Sussex
TN22 3HW

+44 (0)1825 713722
info@safepointtrust.org
http://www.safepointtrust.org

Press release submitted by: WorldWidePR.net
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Marc Koska Launches LifeSaver

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Philanthropist, Social Entrepreneur and inventor, Marc Koska, OBE, launches the LifeSaver campaign:

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Click here to Comment on this video, and Favourite, Rate and Share it in YouTube

LifeSaver is a campaign that is inviting all global AD (auto-disable) syringe manufacturers to include the new LifeSaver logo and message:

"New Packet. Used Once. Safely Disposed"

on all their packaging. LifeSaver represents the procedure given by a health worker and received by a patient, and can be simply adopted, free of charge, by any organisation. The logo is distinctive and easily recognized, and will act as a unique guarantee of a safe injection.

Marc Koska: "The question to you is simple: Would you want to have an injection with a clean sterile syringe or a used dirty one? Exactly, and so would everyone else! Please send this video link to as many people as you can so that they become aware of this issue. Please help me get millions of hits recorded on YouTube! Thanks!"

LifeSaverAction now also has a Facebook Page (please Like it) and a Facebook Group (please Join it).

For more information, visit http://www.marckoska.com
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The TEDxProject: Marc Koska - 1.3m reasons to re-invent the syringe

by Christian Long

Reflection by Gabriella B.

You’ve been to the hospital, or the clinic before.

Think about it. It was probably immaculately clean, the walls were a neutral, mint green, or pale blue, perhaps, a nice beige. You can smell the antiseptic, and hear hushed muted noises all around.

The crinkle of white paper on examination tables, the ring of the phone from the office. The soft beeping and clicking of expensive machines you barely understand the purpose of. A few people are wandering about the ever frigid halls avoiding nurses and doctors hurrying about authoritatively in crisp white coats or pale blue scrubs. Worried relatives are sitting in plushy chairs leafing through decade old magazines.

Now imagine with me a hot stuffy room. The light is dim through the slightly grimy windows and you can hear the discordant cacophony of the busy street just outside the door. Besides that, the room is full to bursting with sickly people all desperate for a life saving injection, from doctors and nurses who may or may not be trained. It’s dusty and hot, the beds are little more than cots placed in rows to get as many as possible in the already small rooms.

That is what you’d see if you happened to be in any of the poorer sectors of Asia. AIDS and many other viruses are rampant in these areas and are spreading with the help of well meaning doctors and nurses.

How could this be happening? It’s really as simple as a syringe. You know what I’m talking about. You probably have one or two in your kitchen drawers. The issue most developing countries face is that not only are these syringes being reused but there is a business in the collection and repackaging of used syringes.

This places massive risks on a single, life saving shot. Aside from the obvious problem of sanitation there is also the issue of cross contamination of medicines and the side effects of a bad mix.

As Koska explains many of the patients view doctors as ‘next to God’ and trust them to do the right thing. He tells the story of some children in Pakistan whose job is to collect used syringes from the back of hospitals, wash them, repackage them and sell them for more than what a sterilized syringe costs. In china this is even more of a problem. One story of an Indonesian school is particularly appalling of children being given used syringes to play with and then using them to drink from.

So what can be done to prevent the annual death of 1.3 million people due to the reuse of syringes? The answer proved surprisingly simple. As Koska demonstrates the answer was there the entire time, we only needed someone who cared enough about the problem to start acting on the solution.

He has developed a syringe that looks and works just like an ordinary syringe, and is even made in the same machines as ordinary syringes at the same cost. The crucial difference is that his syringes lock in place and break if an attempt at reuse is made.

Simple, no?

So I guess the question we have to ask ourselves now, is why it took 1.3 million deaths for someone to care enough?

Excerpted from:
Marc Koska - 1.3m reasons to re-invent the syringe

Original TED page with speaker bio, links, comments, etc:
Marc Koska - 1.3m reasons to re-invent the syringe
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Marc Koska: 1.3m reasons to re-invent the syringe

Malaria kills 1 million people a year? Reused syringes kill 1.3 million a year? Holy crap. Those are the sort of numbers that remind me in no uncertain terms that I live in a privileged world.

OK, a few minutes in and I'm convinced this is one of the most terrifying TED talks I've seen.

Sometimes we joke about planned obsolescence, or about items breaking just as they come out of warranty. Marc Koska's one-time-use (enforced) syringes are that, but for the best of reasons. This is the kind of thing that will save lives.

Excerpted from reviewingted.posterous.com