Latest news with #ANMs
Hans India
2 days ago
- Climate
- Hans India
Tirupati district gears up for full monsoon season
Tirupati: In view of the early arrival of the southwest monsoon, widespread rainfall is expected across the district. District Collector Dr S Venkateswar has instructed officials to remain vigilant and ensure full preparedness to tackle any challenges that may arise during the rainy season. Along with DRO G Narasimhulu, the Collector conducted a review meeting on Friday, issuing detailed instructions to officials from various departments. Emphasising the need for a comprehensive and robust action plan, Dr Venkateswar urged authorities to draw on past experiences to implement preventive measures more effectively this year. Officials were asked to follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the Disaster Management Authority and work in close coordination. The Collector directed the establishment of control rooms at the district, division, and mandal levels, with dedicated phone lines and toll-free numbers to be made available to the public. Panchayat secretaries and engineering assistants were instructed to jointly inspect tanks and canal bunds and submit reports on their condition. The Health Department was told to ensure that all medical officers, ANMs, and ASHA workers remain alert and that adequate stocks of medicines and medical equipment are maintained at all health centres. Special instructions were also issued to the police, fire, planning, revenue, irrigation, and panchayat departments. Departments such as Irrigation, Electricity (APEPDCL), Revenue, Agriculture, and Horticulture were directed to take immediate preventive action. Special attention was urged for flood-prone zones identified during last year's heavy rains. Reiterating the district administration's primary responsibility to protect citizens, the Collector called for full-scale preparedness. He warned of the risks posed by thunderstorms and lightning during the rainy season and instructed officials to raise awareness among the public and take precautions to prevent harm to both people and livestock and set up rehabilitation centres. The meeting was attended by RDOs of Srikalahasti, Sullurpeta, and Tirupati – Bhanu Prakash Reddy, Kiranmayi and Rammohan, DPO Suseela Devi and other officials.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Low quality drug delays Telangana's annual deworming campaign
Hyderabad: With just two months left till the state's annual deworming campaign begins, officials of the Telangana Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Cooperation (TGMSIDS) have handed the task of manufacturing over 1 crore doses of albendazole tablets by June-end to a new company. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While the campaign was rescheduled to be conducted in Aug, the date is yet to be finalised. Telangana postponed its national deworming day campaign in Feb this year after the Union health ministry's Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) flagged nearly two dozen batches of albendazole tablets as not of standard quality (NSQ) in consecutive monthly reports of March and April. Acknowledging the violation, an official from the Drug Control Administration (DCA) said that the Madhya Pradesh-based manufacturing company tasked with manufacturing these tablets was recently blacklisted. "A company is blacklisted if there are three continuous NSQs. We filed a case against the manufacturer due to repeated violations. A chargesheet will be filed soon, and further investigation will be conducted. " Speaking to TOI, an official from the TGMSIDS said that the order to manufacture the albendazole tablets was given to the concerned company in Nov last year, and the delivery was due for Jan 2025. "The usual time for delivery is 60 days. Of the total 25 batches that the company delivered, as many as 19 were found NSQ. This is why we could not conduct the deworming campaign in Feb as there was a shortage of these tablets. While many states conduct the campaign in two rounds (Feb and Aug), we only follow the Feb cycle as the malnutrition and worm infestation in children in the state does not prevail to the extent it was 20 years ago," explained the official. In March this year, the TGMSIDS officials gave the order to produce 1 crore albendazole tablets to a New Delhi-based company with its factory based in Haryana. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The manufacturer has been asked to produce 1.3 lakh albendazole tablets daily to meet the target in time. "As many as 16 lakh tablets have been supplied so far," said the official. Albendazole is an anti-parasitic tablet commonly used to treat infections caused by worms, such as tapeworm, ringworm, and others in children. The tablets are distributed every year to children in govt schools and pregnant mothers by the auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) on National Deworming Day in Feb to improve children's overall health, nutritional status, and educational outcomes. A total of 1.12 crore albendazole tablets were distributed by the officials in 2024 to children aged between 1 and 19 years, including those in govt schools, and others. Of this, 1.42 lakh tablets were also provided to pregnant women in the state.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
100 Gadchiroli anganwadis to be converted into ‘Nand Ghars'
Nagpur: In a significant development, 100 anganwadis in Gadchiroli district will be transformed into modern 'Nand Ghars' with e-learning facilities by Vedanta Group's Anil Agarwal Foundation. 'Nand Ghar' is a flagship corporate social responsibility (CSR) project to modernise tribal schools. The 'Nand Ghars' will provide early childhood education and nutritional support to the children in the morning and conduct health and micro-enterprise awareness programmes for women in the afternoon. This innovative initiative is being implemented under the vision of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. To execute this initiative, department of women and child development has facilitated a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Gadchiroli Zilla Parishad and Anil Agarwal Foundation. The MoU was signed by Gadchiroli ZP CEO Suhas Gade, and Shashi Arora, CEO, Nand Ghar, Vedanta. As part of the project, the anganwadis will be upgraded with modern infrastructure. Children aged 3 to 6 will receive pre-primary education and nutritional support in the morning session, while women will participate in afternoon programmes focusing on health awareness and micro-enterprise development. The upgraded anganwadis will cater to nearly 3,900 children aged 0 to 6, along with over 600 pregnant and lactating women. Additionally, 1,134 adolescent girls will receive skill development training in afternoon sessions. This initiative is expected to address health issues in remote areas of Gadchiroli and empower women economically by providing livelihood-oriented training. The govt also plans to scale this initiative across the state. Each upgraded centre will feature colourful, child-friendly interiors and be equipped with basic amenities, including LED TVs for e-learning. Training will also be provided to anganwadi workers on e-learning tools, and to accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers and auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) for delivering health services. The ZP will coordinate the project by providing list of eligible anganwadis, appointing district-level nodal officer, overseeing branding, and ensuring regular maintenance. Infrastructure such as water supply, toilets, electricity, and healthcare services will be ensured. A joint working group will be established to monitor and implement the project effectively. This initiative underscores CM's commitment to inclusive growth and highlights his compassionate approach to developmental governance.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
GVMC readies action plan to check diseases this monsoon season
The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has planned several strategies to check seasonal diseases in the city this monsoon season. The civic body has drawn a comprehensive action plan focused on mosquito control, raising people's awareness and improvement in sanitation. Identifying fever hotspots based on history, intensifying anti-larval operations, and initiating widespread fogging and spraying activities are among the key strategies. Chief Medical & Officer of Health (CMoH) Naresh Kumar said that 106 water stagnation points had been identified in the GVMC limits. Sanitation teams are being deployed to monitor such spots and clear water stagnation points, especially during rains. Spraying operations are being carried out in drains across the city, and oil balls will be put in select water bodies to check mosquito breeding. The GVMC has been using drones to spray pesticides in some water bodies. 'While anti-larval measures are already on, we will intensify the operations in anticipation of the rains and the possible outbreak of vector-borne diseases,' Dr. Naresh Kumar said. Augmenting manpower To strengthen the manpower for these intensified operations, the GVMC has proposed the recruitment of an additional 430 personnel. Currently, around 230 workers are engaged in anti-larval operations. The proposal is expected to be reviewed during the upcoming GVMC Council meeting, likely to be held in the first or second week of June. Starting June 15, when educational institutions are scheduled to reopen, fogging and spraying operations will be carried out in all hostels. In general, Visakhapatnam reports dengue cases often when compared to chikungunya and malaria. Last year, a few cases of malaria were reported. However, the number of cases being reported is on the decline, the officials said. Meanwhile, the GVMC officials are preparing to launch awareness campaigns in collaboration with the Health Department, ASHA workers, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), and sachivalayam staff. A door-to-door surveillance exercise will be rolled out to educate residents in clearing stagnant water, aiming to curb mosquito breeding at the source.
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Special immunization drive against measles and rubella across Chittoor
The first phase of the vaccinations will begin from May 26 to 31, followed by the second phase from June 23 to 28 and the third round from July 21 to 26 A three-phased immunisation drive against measles and rubella (MR) will be held across Chittoor district. The drive is part of the national goal to eradicate both diseases by 2026. District Medical and Health Officer (DM&HO) D.T. Sudharani, addressing medical and paramedical staff, highlighted the importance of the three-phased campaign. She urged parents and management of schools to ensure that every child received both doses of the MR vaccine. The first phase of the vaccinations will begin from May 26 to 31, followed by the second phase from June 23 to 28 and the third round from July 21 to 26. She said: 'Measles and rubella are dangerous viral infections that could lead to severe health complications such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, and brain inflammation in children, and if left untreated could even lead to death. The rubella infection can result in miscarriages or babies born with severe congenital defects like deafness, heart disorders, or intellectual disabilities. The Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) and Asha workers should educate pregnant mothers about the importance of the vaccinations.' The campaign will place special focus on vulnerable populations such as migrant workers, slum dwellers, and those working in brick kilns, construction sites, fishing communities and agriculture workers.
