Latest news with #ASHA
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: State targets to reduce dengue cases by 90% this year, says Dr Balbir
As part of the on-going 'Har Shukarwar Dengue Te Vaar' campaign, Punjab health minister Dr Balbir Singh on Friday morning sensitised city residents about the importance of cleaning and drying water storage containers every Friday to prevent mosquito breeding. Dr Singh accompained by civil surgeon Dr Ramandeep Kaur and health teams visited New Kailash Nagar to conduct a thorough inspection of houses in Street number 1. During his visit, Dr Singh identified dengue larvae in desert coolers, flowerpots, water containers, fridge trays, tank water and water storage containers. Dr Singh said, 'These are critical breeding grounds for the Aedes mosquito and regular cleaning is essential to stop dengue in its tracks.' He also urged residents to wear full-sleeve shirts as an additional protective measure against mosquito bites. Dr Singh highlighted the state-wide efforts under the state government campaign, noting that 20,000 Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers are actively inspecting homes across Punjab every Friday. 'These workers are tasked with identifying dengue larvae and educating communities on preventive steps, such as eliminating stagnant water and maintaining hygiene in and around households,' he added. The health minister stated that this concerted effort is part of a broader goal to reduce dengue cases by 90 per cent this year, following a 50 per cent reduction achieved last year compared to previous years. To further strengthen the campaign, Dr Singh also mentioned that schoolteachers across Punjab are being trained to educate students about dengue prevention. 'This initiative aims to mobilise 20 lakh school students to spread awareness and assist in controlling the disease. Additionally, every village in Punjab has established a health committee with 15 members each, who are receiving training on identifying and eliminating dengue larvae, ensuring a grassroots-level response to the public health challenge,' he added. Meets family of COVID victim Dr Singh also visited the family of the man who died of COVID-19 on Wednesday. He offered his condolences, encouraged the family to adhere to isolation guidelines and assured them of government's unwavering support. Addressing the current COVID-19 situation, the health minister reported that only three cases have been recorded in Punjab to date, stressing that there is no cause for concern. He added that the situation is completely normal and Punjab is fully equipped with adequate infrastructure, including oxygen, medicines, beds, and all necessary resources. Dr Singh also advised immune compromised individuals such as pregnant women, the elderly, and those with conditions like kidney disease, high BP, cancer, or respiratory issues to wear masks when stepping outside as a precautionary measure. He underscored the importance of vigilance while affirming the state's preparedness to handle any health challenges. Dr Singh said, 'Through collective action and adherence to preventive measures, we can protect our communities from both dengue and COVID-19.'
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Health min inspects every home in New Kailash Nagar
1 2 Ludhiana: Health minister Balbir Singh inspected every nook and cranny of the houses in street number one of New Kailash Nagar here Friday morning. He was accompanied by civil surgeon Dr Ramandeep Kaur and health teams. They did not find a single household that didn't have dengue larvae in their coolers, flower pots, water containers, fridge trays, tank water, and water storage containers. Singh said these are breeding grounds for the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which causes dengue, and sensitised residents to the importance of undertaking regular cleaning and draining off accumulated water to prevent dengue. He also urged the residents to wear full-sleeve clothes as an additional protective measure against mosquitoes, which are known to bite during the daytime. The minister's visit was part of the govt's ongoing 'Har Shukarwar Dengue Te Vaar' campaign. Highlighting the statewide efforts under the campaign, the minister said 20,000 ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers are actively inspecting homes across Punjab every Friday. These workers are tasked with identifying dengue larvae and educating communities about preventive steps, such as preventing water stagnation and maintaining hygiene in and around households. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo This concerted effort is part of a broader goal to reduce dengue cases by 90% this year, following a 50% reduction achieved last year compared to previous years, the minister said. To strengthen the campaign further, Singh said schoolteachers are being trained to educate students about dengue prevention. This initiative aims to mobilise an army of 20 lakh school students to create awareness and assist in controlling the disease. In addition, every village in Punjab has set up a health committee with 15 members each, who are being trained to identify and eliminate dengue larvae, ensuring a grassroots-level response to the public health challenge, a health department statement said.
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Health dept takes steps to contain diseases
Bhubaneswar: More than 40.49 lakh long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) were provided to seven malaria-prone districts to be distributed among the vulnerable population. These districts are Rayagada, Kalahandi, Koraput, Kandhamal, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Boudh. Similarly, two districts, namely Sundargarh and Khurda, reported a comparatively higher number of dengue cases last year. Health and family welfare secretary Aswathy S at a meeting on Thursday directed officials to intensify preventive and surveillance activities in these districts. She asked them to ensure actual use of LLINs by people in their houses. The chief district medical and public health officers were asked to ensure this with the help of ASHA workers and multi-purpose health workers (MPHWs) in villages and wards. In the meeting, it was decided that senior officers from the directorate of public health and the National Health Mission (NHM) would go to the grassroots level and ensure 100% use of LLINs, availability of testing devices, sufficient stock of drugs, active surveillance, screening, and testing. Director of public health Nilakantha Mishra was advised to draw a detailed schedule for the movement of officers to districts. While reviewing the preparedness, the health secretary directed intensification of wide awareness activities at the grassroots level and ensure sufficient stock of required drugs at different levels, ranging from ASHA workers to sub-centres, primary health centres, community health centres, sub-divisional and district quarter hospitals. Aswathy also directed mobilisation of the community and orient them towards preventive practices involving women self-help groups (WSHGs), community leaders, and MPWHs. It was also decided at the meeting to issue advisories for proper cleaning of overhead water tanks and sanitisation of water sources in residential complexes or hostels before the reopening of educational institutions. The issues relating to regular water quality testing, disinfection, and monitoring in rural and urban areas were also discussed. The activities would be carried out in a targeted campaign mode under the supervision of NHM mission director Brundha D.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Social media campaign urges India to view menstruation as a sign of health
1 2 3 Pune: On World Menstrual Hygiene Day (May 28), a new social media campaign is challenging India's entrenched narrative around menstruation. Launched by Tata Trusts, the initiative asks a provocative question: "What if we delink menstruation from fertility, and instead see it simply as a symbol of health?" The campaign spotlights four influential figures in a woman's menstrual journey, including mothers, mothers-in-law, ASHA workers, and men. Through a series of short films and a catchy jingle, 'Maheena Aa Gaya', the campaign aims to normalise conversations about periods and dismantle long-standing taboos. Medical experts support this reframing. Dr Sunita Tandulwadkar, president of the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India and head of obstetrics and gynaecology at Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune, stated, "The regulation of periods goes much beyond highlighting the fertility of a woman. It represents her health condition. Monitoring periods is even more important in today's world where lifestyles have changed. Long working hours, high stress, irregular sleep, fast food, and rising obesity all play a role, not just in fertility but also overall health. " Dr Manisha Kulkarni, senior consultant in the obstetrics and gynaecology department at Sahyadri Hospitals, Hadapsar, said, "Many women experience heavy or painful periods, which can lead to anaemia due to blood loss. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Killer New Toyota 4Runner Is Utter Perfection (Take A Look) MorninJoy Undo Some also face premenstrual syndrome (PMS), a real condition marked by mood swings, sadness, or irritability before periods. In cases of severe pain or heavy bleeding, conditions like endometriosis — where tissue similar to the uterus lining grows outside it — may be diagnosed. These issues can lead to fatigue, weight gain, or even hypothyroidism. However, irregular periods don't always mean infertility. With minimal treatment, many women with irregular cycles can still conceive. Common myths persist such as painful periods are not normal and should be checked; you can and should bathe and exercise during periods; periods don't need to last a full week to be 'cleaning' the body; and healthy cycles can vary. PMS is real—many women experience emotional and physical changes days before their period." Kulkarni emphasises getting medical help early is key. The campaign also highlights several issues that women continue to face as the topic is not often talked about freely in Indian households. "The lack of reliable access to water and private spaces, whether to bathe, change, or dispose of pads, makes it difficult for girls to manage their periods with safety and dignity," said Divyang Waghela, head of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) at Tata Trusts. "Lack of infrastructure and agency compound this problem. We strive to tackle barriers around infrastructure, belief systems, and environments perpetuating them. Through this, girls can view periods as a normal part of health, not something to be hidden away," Waghela said. Creative director Keigan Pinto emphasised the campaign's relatable approach. "We're not asking people to radically shift their thinking. We simply want them to understand that a period is just a 'lakshan'—a symptom, like hair loss. Capturing this, we created a simple, light film that we shot in people's homes, with a powerful, memorable song with a hook rooted in Indian pop culture, offering an important reminder: 'Maheene ko sirf sehat se jodo' (link that time of the month only to health)."
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Focus on heat-resilience despite the monsoon
At a national conference on climate and health titled 'India 2047: Building a Climate-Resilient Future', recently, a trade union leader shared the lived reality of garment workers in sweltering factories, while a climate modeller spoke about wet-bulb temperatures — two equally important perspectives that are reflective of science and the lived reality. The conference showed the power of unlikely collaborations: paediatricians with architects, maternal health experts with city engineers, and academicians with policymakers. The monsoon may have set in early, but the fact that cannot be ignored is that India did face (and will face) yet another season of intense heat; the toll on public health is impossible to ignore. From dehydration and heatstroke to exacerbated chronic illnesses, extreme heat is pushing the health system to its limits. Yet, our response remains siloed and heavily skewed toward crisis care (hospital beds, intravenous (IV) fluids, and emergency admissions) when it should be grounded in prevention. For India's health system to address the challenges of a warming world, it must evolve from reactive care to proactive and preventive action, and must also be interdisciplinary. Prevention begins with primary care India's primary health-care system is the first line of defence, but it is not climate ready. Professionals at health and wellness centres, primary health centres and frontline Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers are well-placed to act as heat-safety champions. With proper training and protocols, they can alert communities, check on vulnerable patients, and spread simple yet life-saving tips such as staying hydrated, avoiding midday exertion, and spotting early signs of heat stress. Linking early warning systems from meteorological departments to local health networks can trigger rapid community action. Imagine a heat alert triggering messages from ASHAs to village WhatsApp groups, door-to-door visits to elderly residents, and the distribution of hydration kits in advance. These actions have saved lives in cities such as Ahmedabad and have the potential to be scaled across rural India. Additionally, integrating prevention into routine chronic care is critical as people with heart disease, diabetes, kidney conditions, and mental health issues are especially vulnerable. During summer, clinicians must adjust medications, counsel patients on heat safety precautions, and closely monitor high-risk individuals. Clinical protocols must catch up Despite rising cases of heat-related illness, many health-care providers still do not screen for heat exposure in routine health checkups. Heat stroke is often misdiagnosed, or worse, missed entirely especially in busy emergency settings. We need clear, standardised clinical protocols for diagnosing and managing heat illnesses, along with regular summer drills in hospitals to ensure readiness. Dedicated 'heat corners' in emergency departments, pre-stocking of cooling kits at health centres, and post-discharge follow-ups for patients with heat illnesses are all simple but powerful steps towards a truly preventive approach. The heat-health crisis cannot be tackled by the health sector alone. Preventing illness is not just about treating symptoms. It means reducing exposure in the first place. This requires coordinated action across different sectors and disciplines. Urban planners must rethink housing design and public spaces. Water departments must ensure access to reliable supply during peak summer months. Labour departments need to enforce protections such as regulated outdoor working hours. Further, climate scientists must collaborate and work closely with health officials to guide timely, data-driven, targeted interventions. India should move beyond the model of 'centres of excellence' and build networks of excellence forming teams that bring together public health, climate science, urban development, labour rights, and grassroots voices. These networks can co-design solutions rooted in lived reality — from misting shelters in slums to cool roofing in Anganwadi centres. Health for all starts with equity Extreme heat is not just a weather event but is also a social injustice multiplier. When temperatures soar, it is the informal vendors on sizzling pavements, the children in cramped classrooms, and the elderly in poorly ventilated tenements who bear the brunt. When the heat index crosses danger thresholds, the most affected are people with no choice — waste pickers with no shelter or daily wagers working under tin roofs. 'Stay indoors' is not guidance to the vulnerable. It is a stark reminder of how deeply skewed our systems are. To prevent the worst health impacts of heat extremes, we must shift from reactive emergency care to preventive, equity-rooted public health. This begins with mapping vulnerability, not just meteorologically, but socially — who lives where, how he works and what he lacks. Early morning health checks during red alerts, mobile hydration stations in low-income zones, subsidised cool shelters for the homeless, and protective policies for outdoor workers are life-saving necessities. The science is clear. So is the moral imperative: climate resilience means nothing unless it protects those most at risk. The window for action is narrowing, but the path ahead is clear. As climate extremes intensify, India must seize this moment to lead with vision and urgency. By embedding heat resilience into our public health systems, anchored in equity, science, and local leadership, we can safeguard lives and livelihoods. The time to act is not tomorrow or next year. It is now. Let India be the country that chose to prepare, protect, and pioneer. Nitya Mohan Khemka is Director of the Khemka Foundation, focused on strategic philanthropy. Indu K. Murthy leads the Climate, Environment and Sustainability sector at the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), a research-based think tank
