
District immunisation officer reviews vaccination drive
As part of efforts to strengthen maternal and child healthcare services, he announced the launch of the Kilkari Message System. Through this initiative, pregnant women will receive weekly voice messages providing crucial healthcare advice. A total of 72 pre-recorded messages, each lasting about 1 minute and 30 seconds, will be sent from the fourth month of pregnancy until one year after childbirth via calls from the number 0124-4451660.
Dr Babu informed that if beneficiaries miss any message, they can dial 14423 to listen to them at their convenience. He clarified that these services are completely free of charge. The Kilkari messages will cover four key areas: maternal health, child health, immunization services, and family planning. Delivered in the voice of Dr Anita, the messages are designed to offer timely advice and guidance to mothers and expecting women, enabling them to make informed decisions and access essential healthcare services. Officials expressed confidence that the programme will help reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in the district.
Dr Babu also urged ANMs and ASHA workers to raise awareness about the Kilkari Message System among all pregnant women and mothers with infants below one year of age to ensure maximum participation and benefit from the initiative.
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Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation tops Maharashtra State Health rankings
The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has once again proven its leadership in public health. In the recently released rankings of Maharashtra's state-level health programs by the Directorate of Health Services, PCMC emerged as the top-performing civic body for April and May 2025. With a score of 45.18 in April and an improved 47.70 in May, PCMC not only maintained but strengthened its first-place standing across multiple indicators. 'This ranking is not just about numbers; it is a recognition of our work culture and citizen-centric approach to healthcare. Our focus on maternal and child health, immunization, and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases has been consistent and impactful,' said Vijaykumar Khorte, Additional Commissioner, PCMC. The assessment covered crucial areas including maternal and child health, immunization, family planning, adolescent health, implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, effective use of the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) portal, surveillance under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), tuberculosis (TB) control, rabies prevention, leprosy elimination, dengue and malaria management, non-communicable disease control, the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM), accreditation for quality health services, the e-Aushadhi drug supply system, free diagnostic services, the Ayushman Bharat–Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWC) initiative, HIV services, the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) programme, and financial administration. 'Securing the first rank across the state for two consecutive months reflects the dedication of our medical officers, health staff, ASHA workers, and the cooperation of citizens. We are committed to sustaining this momentum and delivering the best possible healthcare services in the future,' said Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh. 'From frontline health workers to specialist doctors in hospitals, every level of participation has contributed to this success. This achievement is a matter of pride for the entire city, and we are confident of sustaining it through innovative initiatives in the future,' said Dr. Laxman Gophane, Chief Medical officer of Health, PCMC.


Time of India
12-08-2025
- Time of India
Turmeric to green tea: Can herbal supplements put the liver in danger?
A recent study reveals a concerning trend. Millions in the US regularly consume herbal supplements. These supplements contain ingredients potentially harmful to the liver. Researchers at the University of Michigan analyzed data. They found widespread use of supplements with hepatotoxic botanicals. Turmeric, green tea, and ashwagandha are among the commonly consumed ones. The supplement industry is booming, and many are leaning towards herbal ones, hoping they are safe, because they are 'natural'. But does natural mean they are safe for your health? Well, not really. People across the globe consume supplements, and a recent study found that many contain potentially harmful natural ingredients. A study by the researchers at the University of Michigan found that millions of people consume supplements that contain potentially hepatotoxic botanical ingredients. The findings are published in the journal JAMA . Herbal supplements and liver damage This study dug deeper into the breadth of consumption of herbal supplements, which were previously shown to be potentially toxic to the liver. They found that millions of Americans consume herbal supplements that are toxic to the liver. The researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2017 and 2020. Over a 30-day period, 4.7% of surveyed U.S. adults reported taking supplements containing at least one of six botanicals of interest: turmeric green tea ashwagandha black cohosh garcinia cambogia red yeast rice Explaining the paper Estimated Exposure to 6 Potentially Hepatoxic Botanicals in US Adults , the lead author, Alisa Likhitsup, M.D., M.P.H., the clinical assistant professor of Medicine at U-M, said, 'Our interest started when we saw cases of liver toxicity from herbal and dietary supplement use in people enrolled in the ongoing NIH-funded DILIN study.' The number of people taking these supplements was shocking. 'But it was difficult to say how many people were using these supplements and why. The major finding here is the large number of Americans taking these products with an estimated 15 million adult Americans taking them on a regular basis,' Likhitsup added. Not all supplements are safe While supplementation is often used to compensate for the deficiency of nutrients in the body not all are safe. Previous studies have shown that certain botanicals can potentially cause liver damage. The lack of government regulation, insufficient attention to medical screenings, and frequent mislabeling are some other concerns related to supplements. 'In a previous study, we found that there was a great deal of mislabeling of some of these products,' Robert Fontana M.D., Michigan Medicine hepatologist, professor of medicine and the study's senior author, said. 'We performed analytical chemistry and found about a 50% mismatch between stated ingredients on the label and what they actually contained, which is quite alarming. If you buy a supplement and it says it has a certain ingredient, it's basically a coin flip if that's true or not,' Fontana added. The lack of regulation in the supplement industry leads to mislabeling. And since their effects are not well understood, clinicians often will not ask patients what supplements they are taking. 'We weren't aware that so many people were taking these supplements. So, when doctors see patients in the office, they don't necessarily ask about supplement use or take into consideration their effects,' Likhitsup, a transplant hepatologist stressed. What they found The researchers found that most of the people take supplements containing turmeric (3.46%), followed by green tea (1.01%), ashwagandha and black cohosh (0.38%), garcinia cambogia (0.27%), and red yeast rice products (0.19%), in the studied population. What's more concerning is that most of the participants of the study reported that they take these botanicals without the advice of a doctor. Most of the participants took the botanicals either to improve or maintain health. Of the turmeric users, 26.8% consumed the products specifically for supposed benefits for joint health or arthritis, while 27.2% of the green tea users were hoping to improve their energy levels. People who took garcinia cambogia hoped it would help them lose weight. Boom of herbal supplements The researchers also found that there is a boom in the supplement industry, particularly among herbal products. 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The Hindu
11-08-2025
- The Hindu
Sanitation workers attached to PHCs in T.N. demand pay rise and permanent employment
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