Latest news with #rATA
New Indian Express
11-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
JIPMER to conduct regional component of ICMR survey on assistive tech
PUDUCHERRY: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched a nationwide survey titled 'Assessment of Unmet Needs and Access to Assistive Technologies among the General Population through Digital rATA Tool – A Cross-Sectional Study in India.' Among the 25 designated sites across the country, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, has been selected to carry out the regional component of the study. The Puducherry leg of the survey is being spearheaded by Dr Venkatachalam J, Additional Professor in the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine (P&SM), in collaboration with the Department of Health and Family Welfare Services (DHFWS), Government of Puducherry. To ensure smooth implementation of the study, the ICMR team and the site's Principal Investigator recently met with Dr V Ravichandran, Director of DHFWS. Emphasising the critical role of community healthcare workers, Dr Ravichandran said. 'The support of ASHA workers and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) from local Primary Health Centres is essential for reaching the target population and facilitating accurate data collection. I urge the residents of Puducherry to actively take part in the survey, which will help shape future public health strategies and improve access to assistive technologies.' The survey will employ the digital Rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) tool and will cover 21 wards in the Ozhukarai Municipality. A team of trained field researchers will conduct door-to-door visits to gather data from residents. The findings are expected to offer critical insights to guide evidence-based policymaking aimed at expanding access to assistive technologies and improving the quality of life for individuals with unmet health needs.
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
ICMR includes Puducherry for its nation-wide study to enhance availability of assistive technologies
The Indian Council of Medical Research has included Puducherry for its nation-wide survey titled 'Assessment of Unmet Needs and Access to Assistive Technologies among the general population through Digital rATA Tool-A Cross sectional study in India.' The ICMR would carry out the survey in Puducherry in collaboration with the Department of Health and Family Welfare Services and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research. The study was aimed to provide crucial insights for the development of evidence-based policies to enhance the availability of assistive technologies and improve the quality of life of individuals in need, an official release here said. J. Venkatachalam, additional professor, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Jipmer would lead the survey team in Puducherry. The other members of the team would include field researchers for undertaking door-to-door visit to gather data. The survey would be done using rATA (Rapid Assistive Technology Assessment) tool in 21 wards of Oulgaret Municipality, the release said. As part of the collaboration with Puducherry government, a team from ICMR on Friday met the Director of Department of Health V. Ravichandran to discuss the modalities of carrying out the survey. The ANMs and ASHA workers of the respective Public Health Centres in Oulgaret would facilitate data collection and ensure public participation. Residents in the region are also encouraged to actively participate in the survey, the release said.
