Kerala has 571 on Nipah contact list, 27 at highest risk, says Health Minister
According to the health department, 27 people in the state fall under the highest risk category, while 78 are considered high risk.The health minister chaired a meeting with top officials, including the Additional Chief Secretary of Health, NHM State Mission Director, Directors of Health and Medical Education, District Collectors, police officials, and other department heads, to assess the situation and coordinate containment measures.The intensified surveillance follows the second Nipah-related death reported in Kerala last week. A 57-year-old man from Mannarkkad in Palakkad died after developing severe respiratory distress, initial tests confirmed Nipah infection.Earlier, a death was reported in Malappuram this year. In 2024, the state also saw another death linked to Nipah virus complications.Health officials continue to urge vigilance and adherence to protocols to prevent further spread.- EndsMust Watch
IN THIS STORY#Kerala
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Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
126 specialists docs given job letters based on lowest salary quotation
1 2 Ranchi: A total of 126 specialist doctors selected through a tender process under the National Health Mission (NHM) were handed over their appointment letters by the state govt on Tuesday. The selection was made based on the lowest salary quotations offered by the doctors during the tender process, and each of them has been posted as per their preferred locations, ensuring both cost-efficiency and motivation to serve, officials said. State health minister Irfan Ansari distributed the appointment letters during a ceremony held at the IPH auditorium here. Out of the 219 posts originally tendered, 126 doctors have taken up the offer. Another tender process has been initiated to fill the remaining 146 specialist posts and 144 medical officer positions. Among the newly appointed doctors, the number of paediatricians is the most at 22, followed by 20 surgeons, 19 gynaecologists, 17 anaesthetists, 11 general physicians, 10 orthopaedic specialists, nine ophthalmologists, five ENT specialists, five psychiatrists, and four each in dermatology and radiology. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Speed up your Mac and free up storage with Space Lens MacPaw Read More Undo The job letter handing over event also featured the inauguration of a seven-day state-level health fair, the first-of-its-kind on the RCH campus. The fair, which will continue till July 28, aims to inform citizens about various NHM schemes. Facilities such as blood pressure, sugar, and heart disease screenings, Ayushman Bharat and CM Abua Health Security Scheme card registrations, pregnant women check-ups, and child immunisations are being provided free of cost at the fair. Speaking on the occasion, Ansari said, "Our goal is to transform the state into a 'Medicos City.' Every district will now serve as a robust centre of treatment. These newly appointed doctors will act as the health ministers of their respective hospitals, and we are giving them not only recognition but also responsibility." Additional chief secretary of the health department, Ajoy Kumar Singh, NHM director Shashi Prakash Jha, Khijri MLA Rajesh Kachhap, and JMHIDPCL MD Abu Imran were among the dignitaries present on the occasion. Singh emphasised that this appointment drive is more than just a job allocation but a mission to make specialised healthcare accessible to every corner of the state. Moreover, awareness chariots aimed at eradicating filariasis were flagged off in nine districts as part of a comprehensive public health outreach initiative. These mobile units will disseminate crucial information on prevention, detection, and treatment of filariasis, aiming to strengthen community participation and early intervention. Singh added, "The sadar hospital is now being recognised as a national model. Its remarkable transformation has not only elevated patient care standards in Jharkhand but has also drawn the attention of other states. Uttar Pradesh has officially expressed interest in replicating our healthcare innovations."
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Time of India
Meghalaya cracks whip on smoking in public
Shillong: In a bid to protect public health and reduce tobacco use, the East Khasi Hills District Police have stepped up enforcement of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, targeting smoking in public places and illegal tobacco sales near schools and colleges. The Cantonment Beat House and Lumdiengjri Police Station in the state capital have led the charge, booking the highest number of violators under this initiative. "Enforcement is being carried out under every police station, outpost, and beat house across the district," a senior police official said. The district-wide action is part of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), implemented by the health and family welfare department under the National Health Mission (NHM), Meghalaya. "This campaign is not just about fines. It's about changing behaviour and protecting children, elders, and non-smokers from passive smoke. Our goal is a tobacco-free Meghalaya," the police official pointed out, adding that the initiative has received public support. Reacting to the drive against public smoking, a student of the St Anthony's College remarked: "There are kids and elderly who suffer due to smoke. Meghalaya Police are doing a great job saving lives". Dr Nabneeta D Mawrie, NTCP state nodal officer, said, "Tobacco causes 40% of all cancers and 90% of oral cancer. Eliminating it can save countless lives. We appreciate the police's active role".
The Hindu
12 hours ago
- The Hindu
Weight regain begins 8 weeks after stopping anti-obesity drugs, says study
A review of data from clinical trials of weight-loss drugs has concluded that weight regain begins about eight weeks after stopping these medications, and continues up to 20 weeks, before stabilising at about 26 weeks. The paper 'Trajectory of the body weight after drug discontinuation in the treatment of anti-obesity medications' published in BMC Medicine, an open access, transparent peer-reviewed general medical journal, also observed that at 52 weeks, the subjects of the trial still weighed less than they did before starting medication, but the weight loss was reduced compared to when they were actively taking the drugs. 11 clinical trials The researchers Han Wu et al, from the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Peking University People's Hospital, China, analysed data from 11 clinical trials with 1,573 people taking anti-obesity medication. These medications included: GLP-1 receptor agonists (such as semaglutide, liraglutide), orlistat, naltrexone-bupropion, and phentermine-topiramate. Randomised controlled trials of anti-obesity medications conducted in the population for at least four weeks and followed up for four or more weeks after discontinuation were included. The review sought to examine the post-trial period when the drugs stop, estimate what happens to the weight of these patients, how much weight is regained, how soon do they begin to regain weight and the impact of lifestyle factors on weight. The researchers observed that people who lost more weight during treatment were more likely to regain weight, even if they continued lifestyle interventions (including diet and exercise). Those who started with a lower body mass index (BMI), meaning they were less overweight, showed more weight regain after stopping than those with higher BMI. Interestingly, people taking GLP-1-related drugs experienced more weight regain after stopping than those on other drugs, they reported in the paper. Different weight regain was observed in subjects with different characteristics, the researchers said, adding that studies with a longer follow-up duration are required to further investigate the potential factors associated with weight change after discontinuation of treatment. Hope to many 'This is an interesting study with robust meta analyses, but similar results have been shown in many other trials too,' says Dr. Nanditha, consultant diabetologist, Dr. A. Ramachandran's Diabetes Hospitals, Chennai. 'Any intervention, either when you step down or discontinue, will result in weight gain, even if it is lifestyle modifications.' However, it is important to see the usefulness of these drugs in the context of the obesity epidemic. Obesity, originally, was looked upon as a risk factor, but is now considered a disease by itself. 'Earlier, we did not have many tools to treat it, now these drugs are providing hope to people who can lose weight without surgery. What is clear is that the regain will not take you back to the baseline weight, so while expensive, these drugs should be considered an investment, because the benefits go beyond weight loss,' she said. It may be remembered that another study, published recently in the journal Obesity, showed that semaglutide and tirzepatide — injectable GLP-1 drugs for obesity — produce lower weight loss in a real-world setting, as compared to during the clinical trial, because patients discontinue treatment or use lower maintenance dosages.
