Latest news with #PublicHealthFoundationofIndia
Business Upturn
03-06-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Reckitt Partners with Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) to Drive Transformative Public Health Interventions
New Delhi, Delhi, India: Reckitt, a leading global consumer health and hygiene company, has partnered with the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) to strengthen its purpose-led programs across India, with a focus on health, hygiene, sanitation, and life skills education. Established in 2006, PHFI is a globally recognized public-private initiative that has contributed significantly to building India's public health capacity through education, research, and advocacy. The institution was recently ranked second among schools of public health globally (International Journal of Public Health, March 2024) and has been recognized as an ICMR Collaborating Centre of Excellence. The partnership brings together Reckitt's deep experience in driving large-scale behavioural change and PHFI's leadership in public health research, education, and policy. Together, the two organizations aim to co-create innovative solutions, strengthen institutional capacity, and document scalable community health models that can be replicated across India. As part of the collaboration, PHFI will work closely with Reckitt and its civil society partners to validate and document existing outreach programs nationwide. The resulting evidence will be translated into case studies and academic publications to highlight effective, scalable models for health impact. On the partnership, Professor Sanjay Zodpey, President, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), said, 'Partnership between Reckitt and Public Health Foundation of India will develop initiatives responding to community health needs for capacity building, training programs and research to address the public health challenges with a focus on sanitation and hygiene.' Ravi Bhatnagar, Director, External Affairs and Partnerships, Reckitt – South Asia, said, 'At Reckitt, we believe we achieve more together as trusted partners. Through collaboration, we can collectively drive systemic, long-term positive change. We deeply value this collaboration, which unites PHFI's academic and policy leadership with Reckitt's on-ground experience in driving behavioural change. Hygiene is the foundation of good health, and this partnership marks another meaningful step in our journey to support the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. Trusted, purpose-aligned partnerships like this are essential to building a healthier, more resilient India.' PHFI has established five Indian Institutes of Public Health and contributed more than 4,800 research publications to the field. Its recognition as a global public health leader further showcases the strength it brings to this collaboration to deliver evidence-based health interventions. With this partnership, Reckitt and PHFI are not only setting a new benchmark for public-private collaboration but also laying the groundwork for transformative change in how India addresses its most pressing health challenges. Grounding interventions in science and scaling them through community action, the partnership aims to deliver lasting improvements in sanitation, hygiene, and public health outcomes. More than a partnership, this is a mission-driven alliance focused on shifting narratives, empowering communities, and reinforcing the foundations of India's public health system. Together, Reckitt and PHFI aim to ensure that access to health and hygiene is a right for all, not a privilege. About Reckitt Advertisement Reckitt* exists to protect, heal and nurture in the pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world. We believe that access to the highest-quality hygiene, wellness and nourishment is a right, not a privilege. Reckitt is the company behind some of the world's most recognisable and trusted consumer brands in hygiene, health and nutrition, including Air Wick, Calgon, Cillit Bang, Clearasil, Dettol, Durex, Enfamil, Finish, Gaviscon, Harpic, Lysol, Mortein, Mucinex, Nurofen, Nutramigen, Strepsils, Vanish, Veet, Woolite and more. Every day, around 30 million Reckitt products are bought globally. We always put consumers and people first, seek out new opportunities, strive for excellence in all that we do and build shared success with all our partners. We aim to do the right thing, always. We are a diverse global team of 40,000 colleagues. We draw on our collective energy to meet our ambitions of purpose-led brands, a healthier planet and a fairer society. Find out more or get in touch with us at *Reckitt is the trading name of the Reckitt Benckiser group of companies. Click here for Media Contact Details Submit your press release Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
New Indian Express
03-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
India's public health leaders call for warning labels on food products high in sugar, salt, and saturated fat
NEW DELHI: A coalition of India's 29 leading public health and consumer organisations on Tuesday urged the centre to mandate front-of-pack warning labels on pre-packaged food and beverage products high in sugar, salt, and saturated fat (HFSS). The leading public health leaders gave the call for warning labels, responding to the mounting evidence of health risks posed by HFSS and ultra-processed food (UPF) products. Prof. K. Srinath Reddy, Honorary Distinguished Professor and Goodwill Ambassador of Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) for Public Health Partnerships, who has been a longstanding voice in India's public health landscape, said: 'India cannot afford to wait while non-communicable diseases (NCDs) escalate and children become marketing targets.' 'Warning labels are simple, effective, and evidence-based,' he added. The policy statement initiated by Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi) is endorsed by 28 organisations, including PHFI, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Indian Public Health Association (IPHA), Consumer VOICE, and Diabetes India. Patient groups like Kidney Warriors have also supported the statement.
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Combating obesity among adolescents
There is an increased focus in public discourse on growing obesity among adolescents. The seventh edition of Poshan Pakhwada, held last month, focused on childhood and adolescent obesity alongside the first 1,000 days of life. The 'Let's Fix Our Food' consortium, a multi-stakeholder initiative spearheaded by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition, the Public Health Foundation of India, UNICEF-India, and others, recently released a set of policy briefs advocating for the need to better the food environments for adolescents. Last month, in a move to improve transparency on food labels, the Supreme Court gave the Central government a strict three-month window to finalise and enforce transparent food labelling regulations. These measures point towards growing concern about the problem. Nutrition paradox Adolescence is a period of rapid growth and transformation that lays the foundation for future health and well-being. Yet, in India, this crucial stage is being compromised not only by the problem of under nutrition but also by an emerging epidemic of obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases. Ironically, we now live in an era where reaching for a highly processed packaged food item is more convenient than choosing healthier alternatives. Poor nutrition, driven by the aggressive marketing and widespread availability of ultra-processed foods, is pushing our youth towards a lifetime burden of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. This is threatening their well-being and also the nation's long-term productivity and growth. India has, for a while, been facing a nutrition paradox where under nutrition and obesity coexist. While malnutrition persists among children, obesity and diet-related diseases are surging at an alarming rate. As per the World Obesity Atlas 2024, India has one of the steepest annual increases in childhood obesity globally. The Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey indicates that on average, over 5% of adolescents in India and as many as 10-15% in about 10 States are either overweight or obese. For a country with a fifth of its population being adolescents, this is deeply concerning. Adolescents are among the most vulnerable yet least empowered. In an apparently liberal food environment, their food choices appear to be many, but healthier options are not easy to find. Food choices are shaped by schools, social media, peer influence, and aggressive marketing. As highly processed foods, sugary drinks, and high sodium foods become dietary staples, obesity rates among teenagers continue to climb at an alarming pace. Nutrition, however, is not just a health issue — it directly impacts education, mental well-being, and future productivity. Poor nutrition is linked to decreased concentration, lower academic performance, and higher absenteeism, limiting students' potential. In our current food systems frameworks, a shift in power towards children (or those who uphold children's rights) is imminent to achieve healthy and equitable food systems that prioritise children's well-being. Government policies such as making nutrition a 'Jan Andolan (people's movement)', and school health and wellness programmes, will create greater awareness on nutrition. Dealing with the crisis What we essentially need is a two-pronged approach: strong regulatory policies that prioritise adolescent health and active youth engagement. How can policies ensure that healthy foods become accessible, affordable, and most importantly, aspirational in our diverse food environments? Fiscal measures such as a health tax on high fat, salt, and sugar, and subsidies for nutrient-rich foods, have proven to be somewhat effective in discouraging consumption of sugar sweetened beverages in other countries. We must implement front-of-pack nutrition labels to enable informed consumer choices, alongside stricter regulations to curb misleading advertisements targeting children, particularly on digital platforms and in schools. Schools too play a critical role in shaping children's food environments. Nutrition education in schools and communities can empower the youth to make informed food choices, and take up physical activity. However, the problem is not only about a lack of awareness or bad food choices. There is a need to enhance food literacy as an essential life skill that can equip adolescents to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy food, whether they are bought from outside or prepared at home; help them choose diverse diets from what is locally grown; and to be able to read and decipher the information on food labels. We also need inter-ministerial coordination. Nutrition falls under multiple ministries — Women and Child Development, Health, Agriculture, Industry, Consumer Affairs, and Education — and each is working on different aspects. However, without convergence in discourse and action, efforts remain fragmented. Initiatives such as Poshan Abhiyaan provide a framework for collaboration, but a united front from multiple sectors can advocate for stronger regulatory frameworks. It is time to acknowledge that a healthier India demands more than awareness — it requires healthy eating plates, playgrounds, policy action, youth leadership, and a major shift in our food environments. When we prioritise healthy beginnings, we will pave the way for a hopeful future.
