Drive to give 2.6 crore UP kids vitamin A supplement kicks off
vitamin A supplementation
campaign on Thursday.
The campaign, which will run until Aug 9, will cover over 2.6 crore children aged nine months to five years.
"The primary goal of the campaign is to reduce illnesses caused by Vitamin A deficiency, such as
night blindness
, weakened immunity, and malnutrition. Improving child health and reducing child mortality remain key govt priorities," said Dr Ajay Gupta, state immunization officer.
General manager, routine immunisation,
national health mission
, Dr Manoj Kumar Shukla, said: "Sustained efforts over the past few years on the count have led to a drastic improvement in vitamin A coverage. Compared to 44% of children who received vitamin A during NFHS-4, over 74% of children in the same age bracket took Vitamin A when it was measured at the time of NFHS-5, which was also better than the national average of 71.2%."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Time of India
BM Education: CBSE mandates ‘Oil Boards' in schools to fight childhood obesity
Updated: Jul 27, 2025, 06:00 IST In a bid to combat rising childhood obesity , the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has directed all affiliated schools to install 'Oil Boards' across campuses and promote healthy living among students. This directive, detailed in a circular (No. Acad-45/2025) issued on July 15, builds on CBSE's earlier initiative mandating 'Sugar Boards' and reflects its broader campaign to instill good eating habits and encourage physical activity in alarming data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) and the Lancet Global Burden of Disease study, the board noted that more than 20% of urban adults in India are overweight or obese. Projections suggest this number could soar to over 44.9 crore by 2050, up from 18 crore in 2021. 'The rise in childhood obesity is closely linked to poor dietary habits and reduced physical activity,' the circular part of this initiative, CBSE has instructed schools to display 'Oil Boards'—both digital and static—in high-traffic areas such as cafeterias, corridors, and lobbies. These boards will serve as daily visual reminders of the health risks posed by excessive consumption of oil and fats. Moreover, the board has asked that health messages be printed on all official school stationery like letterheads, notebooks, and folders to keep the message constant throughout the school year.'Schools are not just centres of learning, but also places where children build lifelong habits,' said Dr Praggya M Singh, Director (Academics), CBSE. 'Through visual campaigns and practical steps, we aim to make students more conscious of what they eat and how they live.' Schools are not just centres of learning, but also places where children build lifelong habits In addition to visual messaging, the CBSE has urged schools to ensure the availability of nutritious, low-fat food options on campus while limiting the sale of sugary drinks and high-fat snacks. Schools are also encouraged to integrate physical activity into daily routines—by promoting the use of stairs, organizing quick exercise breaks, and developing walking paths on school will be actively involved in designing the 'Oil Boards' as part of experiential learning. To support schools, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has provided posters and videos through its official YouTube channel. Dr Singh concluded, 'The habits we form now will shape the health of the next generation.'
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
So it was not diabetes but the common diabetes pill which was causing heart disease! Shocking research reveals the unbelievable!
For many living with type 2 diabetes, managing blood sugar is a daily reality. Often, medications come as a lifeline, and among them, sulfonylureas like glipizide are popular choices, especially in the US. They've been around for decades, are affordable, and have shown effective results in keeping glucose in check. But now, a new study has cast a shadow over this commonly used medicine. Researchers have discovered a possible link between glipizide and increased heart-related risks. Here's what the study found, what it truly means, and why this matters to families where diabetes is part of everyday conversations. Glipizide: Familiar, trusted, But now under scrutiny Glipizide belongs to a group of drugs called sulfonylureas. For decades, these medications have been trusted for lowering blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, often when metformin alone isn't enough. What made glipizide popular was its affordability and long-standing availability. But popularity doesn't always mean perfection. The latest study signals a possible red flag. Involving nearly 48,000 individuals, this research found that those taking glipizide had a higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, heart failure hospitalisations, and even cardiovascular-related deaths than those taking a newer class of drugs called DPP-4 inhibitors. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like You Won't Believe the Price of These Dubai Apartments Binghatti Developers FZE Get Offer Undo The numbers that raised eyebrows The research compared glipizide with other sulfonylureas like glimepiride and glyburide, along with DPP-4 inhibitors. Here's what stood out: Over a 5-year period, the risk of major heart events was 9.1% in those taking glipizide, while for those on DPP-4 inhibitors, it was 8.1%. The risk ratio for glipizide users was 1.13, indicating a 13% higher risk of cardiovascular events compared to DPP-4 inhibitor users. The risk was also slightly higher with glimepiride (8.6%) and glyburide (8.4%), but not statistically significant. What makes this important is that most participants were on their second diabetes medication after metformin, a common scenario in diabetes care. And they weren't at extremely high cardiac risk to begin with, just moderate, everyday individuals managing a chronic condition. Not just about the numbers, but about what they mean It's easy to be alarmed by statistics. But what do these numbers truly tell us? Firstly, the study doesn't claim that glipizide causes heart problems directly. What it suggests is a possible association, a pattern that raises concerns, especially in people already facing moderate cardiovascular risk. The heart, after all, is already under pressure in type 2 diabetes. When a drug meant to help with sugar control potentially adds to that risk, even slightly, it becomes a serious discussion for healthcare providers. Why affordability might come at a cost Sulfonylureas like glipizide are often the go-to option in low- and middle-income settings because they're inexpensive. DPP-4 inhibitors, on the other hand, are costlier but have a more favourable cardiovascular safety profile. This raises a deeper, more sensitive question: should treatment decisions depend on cost or safety? The answer isn't straightforward. But studies like this push for better informed decisions, where doctors weigh more than just sugar levels, they also look at heart health, overall risk, and long-term quality of life. What this means for families dealing with diabetes This isn't about pushing panic buttons. Glipizide is still an approved and effective drug. But the study offers important insights for personalised diabetes management. It's a reminder that medications work differently for different people, and what works well for one might not be ideal for another, especially when silent risks like cardiovascular strain are involved. It's also a cue to revisit older medications with a fresh lens, especially when newer, safer options are available. The story here isn't about fear, but about awareness and agency. (Inputs from agencies)
Hans India
2 days ago
- Hans India
Study links common diabetes drug with cardiovascular risk
New Delhi: A commonly used type 2 diabetes medication in the US -- Glipizide -- may be linked to a higher rate of heart-related conditions, claimed a study. Researchers from Mass General Brigham examined nationwide data from nearly 50,000 patients treated with different sulfonylureas. They found that glipizide was linked to a higher incidence of heart failure, related hospitalisation, and death compared to dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. The findings are published in JAMA Network Open. 'Patients with type 2 diabetes are at heightened risk of adverse cardiovascular incidents such as stroke and cardiac arrest,' said corresponding author Alexander Turchin, Division of Endocrinology at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH). 'While sulfonylureas are popular and affordable diabetes medications, there is a lack of long-term clinical data on how they affect cardiac health in comparison to more neutral alternatives like dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors,' he added. Type 2 diabetes is a common chronic disease whose prevalence continues to grow worldwide. Individuals with Type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events, including coronary ischemia, stroke, and heart failure. Mitigation of cardiovascular risk is therefore an important aspect of the treatment of diabetes. The study included 48,165 patients with type 2 diabetes and moderate cardiovascular risk who received care at 10 different study sites across the country. The researchers studied the five-year risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients treated with different sulfonylureas (glimepiride, glipizide, or glyburide) or DPP4i in addition to metformin, a primary diabetes medication. They found that glipizide was associated with a 13 per cent increase in cardiovascular risk when compared to DPP4i, while glimepiride and glyburide led to relatively smaller and less clear effects, respectively. 'Our study underscores the importance of evaluating each drug in a particular pharmacological class on its own merits,' said Turchin. The team also called for further research to uncover the underlying mechanisms.
