Latest news with #NationalConsultation
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
National consultation on Retinopathy of Prematurity: Leaders unite to combat childhood blindness
PUNE: In a significant step towards eliminating preventable childhood blindness in India, a National Consultation on Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) was held on 27th June 2025 at PBMA's H. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now V. Desai Eye Hospital, Pune. The consultation witnessed active participation from members of the Indian ROP Society, the National Neonatology Forum (NNF), the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP), government officials, CSR leaders, non-profit organizations, and prominent figures including Prof. Dr. Rajvardhan Azad, President of the Indian ROP Society. The event was co-hosted under the aegis of Sight4All by Cognizant Foundation, Mission for Vision, and PBMA's H. V. Desai Eye Hospital, bringing together a distinguished panel of experts and stakeholders from across the country. The consultation served as a catalyst for several critical national-level outcomes aimed at strengthening ROP prevention and care in India: Consensus on revised national ROP guidelines integrated into child health policies. Strengthened multisectoral collaboration between neonatal units, eye care providers, and public health institutions. Proposal to reinforce the National ROP Task Force with broader stakeholder representation. Endorsement of a public awareness campaign to inform parents and caregivers. Mobilisation of CSR and private sector support for infrastructure and telemedicine. Formation of a Technical Working Group to drive policy and advocacy based on recommendations. ROP is a rapidly growing public health challenge in India, emerging as one of the leading causes of avoidable blindness in children. Affecting preterm infants, particularly those born before 34 weeks of gestation or weighing under 2,000 grams, ROP is preventable and treatable yet continues to cause irreversible vision loss due to gaps in timely detection and intervention. With nearly 3.5 million preterm births each year, India faces a critical public health challenge that demands a coordinated and strategic, national response. The National Consultation was convened to catalyse collective action through strengthened collaboration, policy alignment, and enhanced public and institutional awareness. 'Cognizant Foundation is committed to driving change where it matters the most. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Under our flagship Sight4All programme, we have been working to strengthen early detection and treatment systems for vulnerable newborns at risk of vision loss. The national consultation on ROP is a critical platform that brings together experts, policymakers, and partners to align efforts, share insights, and shape a coordinated national response. We are proud to spearhead this movement to safeguard the vision of India's future generation.' said Mr. Deepak Prabhu Matti, Chief Executive Officer, Cognizant Foundation. Since 2020, the collaborative efforts of Cognizant Foundation, Mission for Vision, and HV Desai Eye Hospital have been instrumental in transforming lives through early Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) screening and treatment. This partnership has successfully enabled early ROP screening for over 3,200 neonates and provided over 500 treatments at no cost to babies from economically weaker sections in various districts of Maharashtra, including Pune, Satara, Jalgaon, and Buldhana. 'Our mission is to enable quality eye health for all, especially for the most vulnerable. Preventing blindness due to Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is a critical step toward that goal, as it ensures that children born too soon are not denied a lifetime of sight. This national consultation is a milestone in bringing together key stakeholders from across sectors including healthcare providers, policymakers, civil society and development partners to strengthen the linkages between neonatal care and eye health systems. Together, we are taking meaningful strides to protect and preserve the sight of our nation's newborns,' said Sabitra Kundu, Chief Operating Officer, Mission for Vision. 'The time to act is now. With the growing survival of pre-term infants, it is essential that our health systems evolve to meet new challenges like ROP. This consultation brings us closer to a future where no child in India suffers blindness due to lack of awareness or access,' emphasized Parvez Billimoria, Executive Director, PBMA's H. V. Desai Eye Hospital By fostering expert dialogue and actionable strategies, the National Consultation aims to lay the groundwork for a coordinated, nationwide approach to eliminate avoidable childhood blindness from ROP.
Budapest Times
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Budapest Times
Orbán hails more than 2 million mailed responses in Vote 2025
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has hailed the result of more than 2 million mailed responses in the government's Vote 2025 survey on the issue of Ukraine's membership of the EU. In a video uploaded to Facebook, the prime minister joined people in Budapest counting paper returns and thanked them, adding that a notary would soon certify them and the official results would be released later this week. Gergely Gulyás told a regular government press briefing last week that with the referendum coming to a close, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will be able to represent a national position at the EU summit that reflects its outcome. He said the Vote 2025 ballot would have the highest or second-highest response rate of all National Consultation public surveys so far, adding that the response rate was also twice as high as in the opposition Tisza Party's survey on the topic earlier this year. Gulyás underscored the importance of the vote, saying that the matter of whether the EU would suspend all existing regulations to force Ukraine into the bloc would have a fundamental impact on Hungary's future.
Budapest Times
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Budapest Times
More than 2 million have returned questionnaires on Ukraine's accession to EU
"I see the numbers every day, the number of responses being returned, and we're over 2 million," PM Orbán said in an interview with public broadcaster Kossuth Radio. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said that more than 2 million people have already returned the questionnaires on Ukraine's accession to the European Union. 'I see the numbers every day, the number of responses being returned, and we're over 2 million,' PM Orbán said in an interview with public broadcaster Kossuth Radio . PM Orbán said this was a 'fantastic success', adding that he 'can't recall when we last had a National Consultation or a vote in which this many people participated'. The prime minister encouraged the public to use the eight days left of the government's Vote 2025 initiative to read a recent interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and 'acknowledge the domestic political debate in connection with it'. 'There are pro-Ukrainian and pro-Hungarian forces, the line of division is completely clear, and it's very important … for every Hungarian citizen to express their opinion on this issue,' PM Orbán added.
The Print
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Child protection laws need awareness, proactive administration for better implementation: Experts
Delivering the keynote address, NCPCR Chairperson Tripti Gurha stressed the importance of structured and widespread awareness to ensure the effective implementation of these legislations. The National Consultation was aimed at strengthening the dissemination and awareness of two key child protection laws, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. New Delhi, May 14 (PTI) Widespread awareness, proactive administrative approaches and personal intervention by authorities were some of the suggestions made for the effective implementation of child protection laws during a virtual meeting convened by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on Wednesday. She highlighted various initiatives undertaken by the Commission and called for stronger collaboration among all stakeholders to uphold child rights in their truest sense. Preeti Bharadwaj Dalal, Member (Legal Rights of Children), shared her on-ground experiences of promoting awareness of the POCSO Act. She said challenges in implementation could be addressed through proactive administrative approaches, personal intervention by authorities and better dissemination of legal provisions. Dalal also noted the success of NCPCR's special benches and camps held in Aspirational Districts, which have helped reach marginalised and vulnerable communities. Dr. Divya Gupta, Member (Child Health, Care and Welfare), said effective implementation of the Child Labour Act required a gender-neutral approach and robust awareness campaigns. Echoing the need for sustained efforts, Dr. Sanjeev Sharma, Member Secretary, emphasised the centrality of child protection and education for all stakeholders. The consultation highlighted several critical areas of concern, including the urgent need for coordinated inter-ministerial efforts, establishment of fast-track courts for child sexual abuse cases, and uniformity in medico-legal reporting formats across the country. The event drew participation from around 300 stakeholders, including representatives from central and state Ministries, state police departments, State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCRs), and civil society organisations. PTI UZM AMJ AMJ AMJ This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Child protection laws need awareness, proactive administration for better implementation: Experts
New Delhi, Widespread awareness, proactive administrative approaches and personal intervention by authorities were some of the suggestions made for the effective implementation of child protection laws during a virtual meeting convened by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights on Wednesday. The National Consultation was aimed at strengthening the dissemination and awareness of two key child protection laws, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, and the Child and Adolescent Labour Act, 1986. Delivering the keynote address, NCPCR Chairperson Tripti Gurha stressed the importance of structured and widespread awareness to ensure the effective implementation of these legislations. She highlighted various initiatives undertaken by the Commission and called for stronger collaboration among all stakeholders to uphold child rights in their truest sense. Preeti Bharadwaj Dalal, Member , shared her on-ground experiences of promoting awareness of the POCSO Act. She said challenges in implementation could be addressed through proactive administrative approaches, personal intervention by authorities and better dissemination of legal provisions. Dalal also noted the success of NCPCR's special benches and camps held in Aspirational Districts, which have helped reach marginalised and vulnerable communities. Dr. Divya Gupta, Member , said effective implementation of the Child Labour Act required a gender-neutral approach and robust awareness campaigns. Echoing the need for sustained efforts, Dr. Sanjeev Sharma, Member Secretary, emphasised the centrality of child protection and education for all stakeholders. The consultation highlighted several critical areas of concern, including the urgent need for coordinated inter-ministerial efforts, establishment of fast-track courts for child sexual abuse cases, and uniformity in medico-legal reporting formats across the country. The event drew participation from around 300 stakeholders, including representatives from central and state Ministries, state police departments, State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights , and civil society organisations.
