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Time of India
9 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
'Stop diarrhoea' drive lays stress on prevention
Lucknow: To save children under the age of 5 from diarrhoea, the state health and family welfare department has launched a ' Stop Diarrhoea Campaign ' across districts. Launched on July 16 and running till July 31, it aims to raise awareness. On Monday, the department reviewed the progress of the drive in which awareness is being spread through mobile vans equipped with posters, banners and audiovisual messages that highlight the causes, symptoms, prevention and treatment of diarrhoea. Mission director, National Health Mission, UP, Dr Pinky Jowel, said the theme for this year's campaign is "Prevention of Diarrhoea, Cleanliness, and Self-Care with ORS". "The objective is not only to prevent diarrhoea but also to promote the use of ORS and zinc tablets while fostering a culture of health awareness," she said. "Key preventive measures include access to clean drinking water , improved sanitation, proper hand washing with soap, exclusive breastfeeding, adequate nutrition and timely vaccination," she said. General manager, Child Health Programme, NHM, UP, Dr Milind Vardhan, said if a child experiences three or more loose stools in a day, it should be considered a case of diarrhoea. Executive Director, PSI India, Mukesh Sharma, said the risk of diarrhoea peaks during the monsoon .
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Low awareness, high prevalence: CKD screening AP flags urgent gaps
1 2 Hyderabad: A pilot study in Andhra Pradesh has revealed a gap in kidney disease awareness, with chronic kidney disease (CKD) detected in nearly 60% of individuals screened, yet only a fraction of them knew they had it. Conducted between March and June 2024, the screening covered two high-risk groups — 843 individuals with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in urban public health centres (PHCs), and 1,217 residents of rural CKD hotspots. Despite high disease prevalence — 57.5% in urban and 61.8% in rural populations — awareness remained low, at 1.4% and 16.5%, respectively. The study, titled 'Point-of-Care Testing and Integrated Digital Health Technology for CKD Screening in High-Risk Populations of India', was published in Kidney International Reports and led by Rama Krishna Chinta of the dept of nephrology, Vedanta hospitals, Guntur. It evaluated the feasibility of using point-of-care testing and digital technology for early CKD detection in settings with limited laboratory access. Researchers checked serum creatinine and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio among adults aged 18 and above who gave consent under the Digital Data Protection Act. Urban participants were drawn from PHCs in Guntur and Mangalagiri, while the rural cohort came from Uddanam in Srikakulam and A Konduru in Krishna district — regions historically linked to CKD of unknown aetiology (CKDu). The health infrastructure in both settings included physicians, midwives, and paramedics, but routine CKD diagnosis was not part of the national NCD control programme, which currently focuses on diabetes and hypertension. The screening was carried out under the frontline optimisation and comprehensive upgradation of services in CKD project, a joint effort of Andhra Pradesh govt, and National Health Mission. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad The study found significant variation in disease severity. In rural areas, 12.5% of patients had grade 4 and 9.8% had grade 5 estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels — markers of advanced kidney failure. Comparatively, only 4.4% and 1.4% of urban patients showed grade 4 and grade 5 eGFR, respectively. Albuminuria, another disease indicator, also differed: Grade A2 was present in 8.1% of urban and 20.6% of rural participants, while grade A3 was noted in 12.6% and 7.1%, respectively. Notably, nearly half (48.4%) of CKD-positive rural patients had no comorbidities. The researchers observed that CKD remains underdiagnosed despite India's progress in managing NCDs. "We found that in city PHCs, where almost all patients had at least one risk factor for kidney disease development, only 1.4% were aware of existing CKD," the authors noted. They also pointed to a key barrier: "Lack of health insurance in almost 85% of the population, resulting in high out-of-pocket expenditures" which made CKD tests unaffordable. In the context of Uddanam, a region previously studied for CKDu, the results showed slightly better awareness (16.5%) but still confirmed that nearly 80% of those affected were unaware of their condition. The findings echo results from past studies, including one 15 years ago that found only 2% awareness in two Indian cities, and a recent Andhra Pradesh survey that recorded 3.9%.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
126 specialists docs given job letters based on lowest salary quotation
1 2 Ranchi: A total of 126 specialist doctors selected through a tender process under the National Health Mission (NHM) were handed over their appointment letters by the state govt on Tuesday. The selection was made based on the lowest salary quotations offered by the doctors during the tender process, and each of them has been posted as per their preferred locations, ensuring both cost-efficiency and motivation to serve, officials said. State health minister Irfan Ansari distributed the appointment letters during a ceremony held at the IPH auditorium here. Out of the 219 posts originally tendered, 126 doctors have taken up the offer. Another tender process has been initiated to fill the remaining 146 specialist posts and 144 medical officer positions. Among the newly appointed doctors, the number of paediatricians is the most at 22, followed by 20 surgeons, 19 gynaecologists, 17 anaesthetists, 11 general physicians, 10 orthopaedic specialists, nine ophthalmologists, five ENT specialists, five psychiatrists, and four each in dermatology and radiology. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Speed up your Mac and free up storage with Space Lens MacPaw Read More Undo The job letter handing over event also featured the inauguration of a seven-day state-level health fair, the first-of-its-kind on the RCH campus. The fair, which will continue till July 28, aims to inform citizens about various NHM schemes. Facilities such as blood pressure, sugar, and heart disease screenings, Ayushman Bharat and CM Abua Health Security Scheme card registrations, pregnant women check-ups, and child immunisations are being provided free of cost at the fair. Speaking on the occasion, Ansari said, "Our goal is to transform the state into a 'Medicos City.' Every district will now serve as a robust centre of treatment. These newly appointed doctors will act as the health ministers of their respective hospitals, and we are giving them not only recognition but also responsibility." Additional chief secretary of the health department, Ajoy Kumar Singh, NHM director Shashi Prakash Jha, Khijri MLA Rajesh Kachhap, and JMHIDPCL MD Abu Imran were among the dignitaries present on the occasion. Singh emphasised that this appointment drive is more than just a job allocation but a mission to make specialised healthcare accessible to every corner of the state. Moreover, awareness chariots aimed at eradicating filariasis were flagged off in nine districts as part of a comprehensive public health outreach initiative. These mobile units will disseminate crucial information on prevention, detection, and treatment of filariasis, aiming to strengthen community participation and early intervention. Singh added, "The sadar hospital is now being recognised as a national model. Its remarkable transformation has not only elevated patient care standards in Jharkhand but has also drawn the attention of other states. Uttar Pradesh has officially expressed interest in replicating our healthcare innovations."
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Meghalaya cracks whip on smoking in public
Shillong: In a bid to protect public health and reduce tobacco use, the East Khasi Hills District Police have stepped up enforcement of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, targeting smoking in public places and illegal tobacco sales near schools and colleges. The Cantonment Beat House and Lumdiengjri Police Station in the state capital have led the charge, booking the highest number of violators under this initiative. "Enforcement is being carried out under every police station, outpost, and beat house across the district," a senior police official said. The district-wide action is part of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), implemented by the health and family welfare department under the National Health Mission (NHM), Meghalaya. "This campaign is not just about fines. It's about changing behaviour and protecting children, elders, and non-smokers from passive smoke. Our goal is a tobacco-free Meghalaya," the police official pointed out, adding that the initiative has received public support. Reacting to the drive against public smoking, a student of the St Anthony's College remarked: "There are kids and elderly who suffer due to smoke. Meghalaya Police are doing a great job saving lives". Dr Nabneeta D Mawrie, NTCP state nodal officer, said, "Tobacco causes 40% of all cancers and 90% of oral cancer. Eliminating it can save countless lives. We appreciate the police's active role".
News18
a day ago
- Health
- News18
Andhra launches midwife scheme to reduce cesarean deliveries
Agency: PTI Amaravati, July 22 (PTI) With a focus to encourage normal deliveries in Andhra Pradesh, the state government on Tuesday introduced a special midwife scheme to reduce cesarean deliveries and promote normal childbirth across the state. Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav approved the programme, wherein in the first phase over 1,200 well-trained midwives will be appointed in nearly 86 government hospitals where annual deliveries range from 600 to over 6,000. A comprehensive job chart will be prepared outlining the services and duties to be provided at various stages, aiming to enhance the quality of maternity care under this scheme. 'The state health department has placed special focus on reducing cesarean deliveries and to this end, Yadav has approved a scheme to promote natural deliveries through well-trained midwives," said an official press release. According to the release, currently, staff nurses handle maternity services without sufficient training, causing more cesarean cases. Selected nurses will undergo 18-month intensive training covering antenatal, delivery and postnatal care. Trained midwives will assist pregnant women during outpatient consultations, offer health advice, educate on nutrition, exercises and explain the benefits of natural deliveries in simple terms. The scheme costs Rs 2.5 lakh per nurse, including stipend. According to the health minister, of all the deliveries in the state during the last financial year over 56 per cent were cesareans. Out of the total deliveries, 41.40 per cent were C-section in government hospitals while 67.71 per cent were C-section in private hospitals. The scheme, supported by the National Health Mission, will expand to primary health centres in tribal and rural areas, ensuring every delivery receives quality care, the release added. PTI MS GDK ADB view comments First Published: July 22, 2025, 22:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
