Latest news with #CHO
The Hindu
a day ago
- Health
- The Hindu
CHOs express concern over delay in receiving salaries
Community Health Officers (CHOs), who were on a strike from April 17 to May 26, have expressed concern over the delay in receiving salaries and requested the State government to initiate the process at the earliest. There are around 10,000 Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs or Village Health Clinics in the State, which are manned by the CHOs. Each clinic, which caters to a rural population of 3,000 to 5,000, is staffed by a CHO, an ANM and two or three ASHAs. The CHOs are authorised to prescribe 105 types of drugs to people, conduct 14 types of tests and provide 12 types of services to the rural public. The CHOs had been on a strike for more than a month demanding payment of pending incentives, an increase in their pay of ₹25,000, regularisation of the services of those who completed six years and resumption of PF. They had withdrawn their strike on May 26, after they were promised that a meeting with the Health Minister Y. Satya Kumar Yadav would be scheduled soon to discuss their issues. While they continue to wait for the meet, they pointed out that the government is yet to release their salaries for the past two months. 'From the meagre salary of ₹25,000 that we receive, we run both our homes and the clinics. After spending from our pockets on the rents, electricity charges at the clinic, we are not left with much to spend on any other necessities at home. If the salaries are not credited on time, it becomes extremely difficult for us to run the clinic,' said Sandeep, president of the Andhra Pradesh Midlevel Health Provider/Community Health Officers' Association. More than 4,000 of the total 10,000 clinics are being run in rented buildings, Mr. Sandeep said, adding that the rents are usually between ₹1,000 and ₹5,000. He expressed disappointment at the government's perception that they do not do enough work. 'We took part in the NCD (non-communicable diseases) survey 3.0, screened people for not just oral and breast cancers, but also cervical. This is in addition to the administrative role we play at the clinics. Despite bearing many responsibilities, the government thinks we do not do enough,' Mr. Sandeep said. He requested the government to release their salaries immediately and hoped that the meeting is scheduled soon.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Hyderabad startup hires golden retriever as Chief Happiness Officer, and the Internet can't handle the cuteness
In the most heartwarming 'new hire' story you'll read all week, a Hyderabad-based startup has gone delightfully viral for hiring a golden retriever named Denver as its newest team member with a tail-wagging twist. Denver's official title? Chief Happiness Officer (CHO). And no, he doesn't code. He cuddles. The LinkedIn post that is breaking the internet Harvesting Robotics, a forward-thinking startup working on sustainable laser-weeding tech for farmers, made this adorable announcement through a LinkedIn post by co-founder Rahul Arepaka. The post, which quickly gathered thousands of likes and an avalanche of love-filled comments, introduced Denver with a perfect blend of sass and snuggles: 'Meet our newest hire, Denver - Chief Happiness Officer. He doesn't code. He doesn't care. He just shows up, steals hearts, and keeps the energy up. Also, we're officially pet-friendly now. Best decision. BTW: He's got the best perks in the company'. Naturally, the internet melted faster than a pup in a sunbeam. Internet reacts to Denver's hiring as a CHO Denver, who now trots around the Harvesting Robotics office stealing snacks, smiles, and snuggles, has unofficially become the most beloved new recruit on LinkedIn. With silky ears, golden fluff, and an unbeatable tail-wag-to-stress ratio, he's redefining workplace wellness, one belly rub at a time. Reactions poured in faster than a pup chasing a tennis ball. 'CHO seems exhausted with the responsibility of making everyone happy,' quipped one user. '4 paws, 0 stress & 100% tail-wagging positivity!' wrote another. 'We need more CHOs – global mandate and perfect RTO vision!' demanded a fan. And perhaps the most relatable: 'I wouldn't have left my seat, wouldn't have let him leave mine for sure.' The corporate initiatives towards a pet-friendly workspace continue to increase As companies around the world explore more empathetic and wellness-oriented work cultures, the rise of pet-friendly offices is becoming a tail-wagging trend. Giants like Amazon, Google, and Zappos have long welcomed furry friends into the workplace, with studies showing that animals help reduce stress, boost productivity, and encourage collaboration. In fact, research from the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) found that 87% of employees in pet-friendly offices are more likely to stay with their company, and 91% feel more engaged. So while Denver may not be squashing bugs in the code, he's absolutely squashing stress in the office and let's be honest, that might be even more important. With four paws, a big heart, and no deadlines to meet, Denver is making the world and Harvesting Robotics a happier place, one woof at a time. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
GMA Network
7 days ago
- Health
- GMA Network
Iloilo City logs 1st mpox case; 4 others under observation
An undated colorized transmission electron micrograph of mpox virus particles (pink) found within an infected cell (yellow). Handout via REUTERS The Iloilo City Health Office (CHO) on Tuesday confirmed its first case of monkeypox (mpox), with four additional suspected cases currently under close observation. CHO head Dr. Mary Ann Diaz said that all five individuals are now in isolation and they are in stable condition. 'Since we now have one confirmed case, it is important to observe proper hygiene, wash hands frequently with soap, and use alcohol-based sanitizers,' Dr. Diaz said. Dr. Diaz also advised the public to avoid crowded places to minimize skin-to-skin contact and to seek early medical consultation and self-isolate if symptoms appear. Mpox, a viral disease similar to smallpox but generally less severe, is characterized by symptoms such as fever, severe headaches, muscle pain, back pain, swollen lymph nodes, low energy, and distinct skin rashes. According to the CHO, contact tracing is ongoing to determine possible exposures and ensure timely intervention. Specimens from suspected and probable cases are being processed in coordination with the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM). Dr. Diaz, meanwhile, emphasized that the confirmed case had no recent travel history, and there is currently no evidence of widespread community transmission. Case monitoring In an official statement issued on the same day, the City Government of Iloilo, through Mayor Jerry P. Treñas' spokesperson Joy F. Fantilaga-Gorzal, assured the public that the local government is taking swift and coordinated action. 'The City Health Office is on top of the situation,' Fantilaga-Gorzal said. "The CHO is working round the clock in coordination with national health agencies and the RITM to carry out specimen collection, laboratory testing, and case monitoring.' The mayor also directed all concerned departments to fully support the CHO's efforts. 'The City Government continues to implement proactive public health measures to ensure the safety and well-being of all Ilonggos,' the statement read. Authorities urged the public to remain calm, follow health advisories, and cooperate with ongoing containment efforts. The CHO is expected to release official advisories in the coming days to guide residents on preventive measures and proper responses to symptoms. —Sherylin Untalan/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
7 days ago
- Health
- GMA Network
Iloilo City logs 1 case of Monkeypox
The Iloilo City Health Office (CHO) confirmed of a case of Monkeypox (Mpox) in the city. In a press conference on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, Dr. Mary Ann Poli-Diaz, CHO head, said that the patient is under isolation while undergoing medication. She said that the patient is in stable condition. She emphasized that the patient has no travel history. However, Diaz has not disclosed any information on the gender, address, age, and occupation of the confirmed patient. Investigation is on to determine other four suspected cases in Iloilo City. Diaz said, as of posting time, she cannot tell conclusively whether there was local transmission of Mpox. Earlier, 15 cases of Mpox have been recorded in three provinces in Mindanao, according to a GMA News Online report. Based on a report in '24 Oras' on May 23, 2025, South Cotabato confirmed 10 cases, Sultan Kudarat had three patients, and Maguindanao del Norte detected two cases. The Mpox virus can be transmitted through intimate, skin-to-skin contact. One can also be infected through contact with contaminated objects. Health experts highly advise proper hygiene, which includes hand washing with soap and water, to avoid infection. Among the symptoms to watch out for include a skin rash or mucosal lesions, which can last two to four weeks, the report added. The rashes are accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes. (via Sevein Hope Gegantoca/dySI Super Radyo Iloilo and GMA Integrated News)
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
CHOs demand fair deal, strike continues in State
Disappointment and dissatisfaction with work for a long time have led to many community health officers (CHOs), who play a key role in delivering a wide range of health services to people at the grasroot level, striking their work indefinitely in the State. Since April 24, CHOs have been organising protests in all district headquarters demanding completion of construction of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, also called Health and Wellness Centres or Village Health Clinics (VHCs), and payment of the performance-based incentive of ₹15,000, pending for eight months, regularisation of their services of those who completed six years, resumption of PF, and an increase in their current pay of ₹25,000. Launched in 2018 under the National Health Mission programme of the Centre, the concept of having an Ayushman Arogya Mandir or VHC for every 3,000-5,000 population was envisaged to deliver expanded range of services and to ensure that they reach everyone. It is the nearest clinic to the people in villages. All CHOs report to medical officers in primary health centres (PHCs). Usually, a VHC is staffed by a CHO, an ANM and two or three ASHAs. While there are 1,77,243 functional Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in the country, there are around 10,000 in the State, the construction of which is reportedly incomplete in 80% of the cases. Some centres do not have a building at all, say the CHOs. 'When we were posted to villages, many of us had to rent a building to run the services. We are bearing the expenditure on rents, ranging between ₹1,000 and ₹5,000. On top of that, we have to spend from our pockets on eletrictity charges, around ₹500-₹700 and upkeep of the premises,' says a CHO from NTR district, who came to take part in the protest at Dharna Chowk in Vijayawada. She adds that most of her income of ₹25,000 is spent on running the clinic. 'Should we worry about running our houses or running the clinics,' she asks. Moreover, the CHOs have not received their pay for April. In the State, the first batch of CHOs, all of whom BSc Nursing or MSc Nursing holders, were recruited in 2019 on a contractual basis. There is no certainty regarding regularisation of their services, they say, adding that they do not have monetary benefits such as Dearness Allowance or transport charges for their field work. President of the A.P. Midlevel Health Provider/Community Health Officers' Association Sandeep said there has been a false narrative against CHOs that many of them are found absent during duty hours. 'While our duty hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., our days start at 7 a.m. to screen villagers, who go to work early, for various non-communicable diseases as part of surveys,' Mr. Sandeep said. The CHOs also pointed out that after they begun their protest, the government has asked them to be on duty until 8 p.m., so as to remain available to people in the event of an emergency. The CHOs, most of whom are women, are opposing this move too, citing security reasons. When asked about their concerns, Health and Family Welfare Commissioner G. Veerapandian said the government has addressed a few demands and requested them to resume duties. He said A.P. is paying the highest remuneration to CHOs in the country. Regarding rents, he said the CHOs are not submitting owners' bank account details for releasing the rent amount. 'There will be no problem in releasing rent,' he said, noting that there has been no disruption in delivery of services to people as, in their absence, District Medical and Health Officers have been instructed to keep VHCs open through ANMs and ASHAs. The CHOs said they are open for talks with the government and Health Minister.
