Latest news with #RajanKhobragade
United News of India
12-07-2025
- Health
- United News of India
Kerala has devised several strategies to contain Nipah: Dr. Rajan Khobragade
Thiruvananthapuram, July 12 (UNI) In view of the rising Nipah cases, the Health Department in Kerala has devised and implemented several strategies across the state to contain the epidemic, said Dr. Rajan Khobragade, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare. Dr. Khobragade made these remarks while inaugurating an international conference on 'Nipah and Other Zoonotic Spillovers - Integrating Health Strategies for Prevention' held here yesterday and emphasized the need for collaboration. Pointing out the state Government's commitment to detecting and containing epidemics that have affected the state since 2019, he highlighted the importance of One Health concept in the current scenario and sought support from institutions such as the Institute of Advanced Virology to strengthen the public health system in the state. The conference was organized in collaboration with the Department of Infectious Diseases, Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, and the Kerala One Health Centre for Nipah Research and Resilience. Dr. Simmi Tiwari, Joint Director of the National Centre for Disease Control, congratulated the Government of Kerala for establishing the Institute of Advanced Virology (IAV), stating that the institute has already made a mark in the field of virology and can significantly contribute to improving public health and epidemic preparedness in both the state and the country. She emphasized the need to expand diagnostic facilities for the timely detection of zoonotic spillover infections that frequently impact the state. Sessions on various topics were delivered by eminent international and national experts, including Dr. Emily Gurley, Professor of the Practice, Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA; Dr. Vidya Arankalle, National Institute of Virology, Pune; Dr. Guruprasad R. Medigeshi, Professor, IISER Tirupati; Dr. Sobha Mammen, Professor, CMC Vellore; Dr. Ummer Karadan, Baby Memorial Hospital, Kozhikode; Dr. Sheen Job, Consultant, Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare; Dr. Biju Soman, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology; Dr. Sreelekshmi M, National Institute of Virology, Pune; and Dr. Jon Epstein, Epidemiologist, One Health Science, USA. UNI DS AAB RKM
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Kin of girl who contracted HIV during blood transfusion being compensated, state govt tells Kerala high court
Kochi: The state govt has informed high court that an order has been issued sanctioning appropriate financial aid to the father of a nine-year-old girl who allegedly contracted HIV during a blood transfusion at the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC), Thiruvananthapuram, and died in 2018. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Health and family welfare additional chief secretary Rajan Khobragade submitted in an affidavit that necessary instructions had also been issued to the revenue (disaster relief fund) department to take further steps for disbursing the financial assistance from the chief minister's disaster relief fund (CMDRF) on an urgent basis, vide order dated May 12. The affidavit was filed in response to a petition submitted by the girl's father, seeking adequate financial aid to help the family cope with the mental trauma caused by the child's untimely death and to relieve the financial burden from prolonged medical treatment. The girl, initially suspected to be suffering from leukaemia, was treated at the Medical College Hospital, Alappuzha, and later referred to RCC. She underwent 49 blood transfusions during her treatment. According to the petitioner, one of the blood donors was later found to be HIV-positive. He alleged that his daughter, who was HIV-negative at the start of treatment, contracted the infection during her treatment at RCC. However, the affidavit stated that RCC was of the considered view that the child and her family were provided full medical, psycho-social and emotional support throughout the unfortunate episode and that no lapses could be attributed to the RCC. The RCC had not recommended compensation, contending that the cause of death was not HIV infection. It was also submitted that RCC does not maintain any funds for compensating deaths or accidents arising from contingent events linked to the institution. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The affidavit also included technical details regarding the current blood testing equipment used at RCC, highlighting the advancements in technology, including the make, model, and its superiority over the equipment in use at the relevant time.
