Strategies to enhance COVID-19 vaccine uptake among prioritized groups: Recommendation for future pandemics. Content Editor: Dr. Soundhar July 17, 2024 at 2:30:00 PM COVID-19, International Health, Vaccination, Research findings It has been demonstrated that stakeholder involvement is significant in planning and targeting vaccination efforts for COVID-19. Community-based stakeholders play a significant role in fostering vaccine-related interpersonal mobilization. It demonstrated that influencers' engagement in developing and implementing vaccination strategies helped reduce misunderstandings and mistrust regarding COVID-19 vaccinations. Vaccination models developed through stakeholder engagement increased COVID-19 vaccine uptake among prioritized groups in supported regions of Uganda. Using the existing public health platforms and community social structures in emergency response efforts can reinforce health systems’ resilience to future pandemics. Click here to read more. Previous Next

E-cigarettes: not a smoking cessation strategy! E-cigarettes: not a smoking cessation strategy! Content Editor: Dr. Prachi Goswami January 8, 2024 WHO News Section Global Health, WHO E-cigarettes are allowed on the open market and aggressively marketed to young people. 88 countries have set no minimum age requirement to buy them and 74 have no regulations at all. E-cigarettes with nicotine are highly addictive and harmful to health. They target children through social media influencers, with more than 16,000 flavors, sleek designs, and popular cartoon characters. Children 13-15 years old are using them at rates higher than adults in all WHO regions . In the UK and Canada, the rates of use in young users are doubled in comparison to adult users. Even brief exposure to e-cigarette content increases interest in these products. E-cigarette users are 3 times more likely to use cigarettes later in life. They are not recommended as a cessation strategy based on the best available evidence of efficacy, even under a controlled environment. WHO recommends strengthening the implementation of bans and surveillance in the 34 countries where they are banned. WHO also recommends strong regulations to reduce their appeal by: Banning flavors Limiting nicotine concentration Taxing them in those countries where they are legal

Clean up your act: Kerala's waste management ordinance 2023 Content Editor: Dr Urmimala Maiti October 24, 2023 at 12:30:00 PM Waste Management, Sanitation, Public health laws and regulations The Ordinance on Waste Management, passed in Kerala, places major responsibility for waste management on the Gram Panchayat. Some key measures are as follows: Fine up to ₹10,000 on commercial establishments that do not segregate the generated waste Segregation of wastes before disposal at hotels, hospitals, and other establishments. Executive power to the panchayat to decide on the user fee for waste generators at various stages, from segregation and collection to its disposal. Door-to-door collection of segregated wastes. Reporting events of littering and unscientific disposal methods by people in the community Punishment for diversion of wastewater and sewage into public drains. Previous Next

Project Chandana: For screening of sickle cell anemia Project Chandana: For screening of sickle cell anemia Content Editor: Dr. Shubham June 29, 2024 Social Trends Sickle Cell Anemia, Anemia, Hematology, Health Program, Tribal Health ‘Project Chandana’ was initiated to screen Sickle Cell anemia among tribal populations in Karnataka, focusing on Chamarajanagar, Mysuru, and Kodagu districts. For quick diagnosis, the IISc (Indian Institute of Science ) developed "HPOS" (High-Performance Optical Sensing). Indian Oil's CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiative has provided cooperation with IISc for the technical unit to support the project. This provides results in less than 5 minutes, and that too in 1/10th of the time and cost of presently used diagnostic tests. The National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission 2047 aims to extend modern healthcare to tribal areas, with plans to expand the screening program to additional districts. Public Health Care Centers, NGOs, and medical institutions are conducting training, screening, and awareness camps for the project’s implementation. The screening program will soon be extended to other districts under the National Health Mission. Overall, Project Chandana represents a significant step toward improving healthcare access for tribal communities in Karnataka. Similarly, ‘Ambari,’ a project to develop the health system for sickle cell disease, will exclusively affiliate an online certificate program for medical and community health officers, equipping them with the necessary skills to diagnose, manage, and support sickle cell disease patients.

A new employment code: Proposal by the National Medical Commission Content Editor: Dr. Shubham August 29, 2024 at 2:30:00 PM Human Resources Management, Doctors pay scale The National Medical Commission (NMC) has proposed a pay scale structure for interns, postgraduate students, super-specialty students, and medical college teachers to ensure fair compensation, job satisfaction, and attract high-quality faculty and students. Private practice for medical teachers should be prohibited to maintain quality of education. Medical teachers who focus solely on teaching should receive a non-practicing allowance. Implementing standardized pay scales, retirement policies, and rotational headship can enhance transparency and prevent toxic environments. The NMC's task force also recommended mentor-mentee programs, financial stability support helplines, and involving families in induction programs to improve the mental well-being of medical students. Duty hours should be restricted to 74 per week, with one day off, a 24-hour duty, and five 10-hour shifts. A 10-day vacation for undergraduate and postgraduate students is also recommended. A committee structure involving deans, department heads, and psychiatrists is proposed to address mental health challenges at the medical college level. Previous Next

How can a video-based tool help improve maternal mental health? Content Editor: Dr. Swathi Shenoy April 30, 2024 at 2:30:00 PM Maternal health, Postpartum, Mental health Maternal mental health is one of the public health concerns as it has a debilitating effect on the mother, child, and family in total. However, awareness of these conditions is lacking in our health system. A quasi-experimental, single-group interventional study is in the planning stage to develop and evaluate a video-based tool to improve awareness and reduce stigma related to maternal mental illnesses. The study is planned to be conducted among 128 postpartum mothers within 6 months of their delivery. The study will be conducted among the mothers visiting the immunization OPDs of the UHTC and RHTC of a medical college in Bangalore, Karnataka. The Postpartum Depression Literacy Scale will be used to assess the effectiveness of the intervention. Further, this intervention can help in identifying mothers with postpartum depression, which will thus ensure early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. However, one of the biggest limitations of the study is the lack of a control group to compare the effectiveness of the intervention Click here to read more. Previous Next

Timelines for organ transplant authorization committees Timelines for organ transplant authorization committees Content Editor: Dr. Shubham May 30, 2024 NOTTO : National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation. Organ Transplantation Approximately 85% of the yearly 16,000+ organ transplants performed in India come from living, unrelated, or related donors. The Union Health Ministry's guidelines: A maximum of eight weeks have been granted to hospital and state permission committees to make decisions regarding live-linked organ transplants. Transplant Timelines: Applications must be processed in ten days , and any inaccuracies in documentation must be corrected in seven days After receiving all documentation, interviews must be scheduled within seven business days to communicate the committee's conclusion. Within 24 hours of the last meeting, the committee's final judgment must be posted on the hospital's website, and the tehsildar's documentation must be sent within 14 days after the application's submission. The aim is to prevent endless waiting for donors and recipients. Thanks to these deadlines, the organ transplant decision-making process will go quite quickly. Click here to read more

A step forward to ensure equitability Content Editor: Dr M Swathi Shenoy December 28, 2023 at 12:30:00 PM Education, Disability-friendly, Equitability The Integrated Government Online Training (iGOT) Karmayogi Platform is the core of Mission Karmayogi. It is an online learning tool used to aid and guide government officials during capacity building. Currently, 27 lakh+ users are registered under this and have access to over 818 courses. On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the portal launched a new accessibility widget. This initiative aligns with the platform’s commitment to create an equitable experience for all. The widget provides services that will ensure inclusiveness, such as: Screen reader Smart Contrast Text spacing Dyslexia friendly Pause animations Page structure This is a step forward for PwD learners to navigate through the courses easily. Previous Next

First case of H9N2 in Vietnam First case of H9N2 in Vietnam Content Editor: Dr. Manjeet Mohanty April 25, 2024 WHO News Section Disease Outbreaks, Epidemiology, Influenza WHO was alerted to a case of human infection with avian influenza A (H9N2) in Vietnam on April 9, 2024. The patient, a 37-year-old male with underlying conditions, was admitted to intensive care on March 21, after testing positive for influenza via PCR. Subsequent testing confirmed avian influenza A (H9N2) on April 8. Investigation revealed the patient lived near a poultry market, but no sick poultry were reported nearby. Close contacts were monitored, but no new cases were reported. This marks Vietnam's first human case of avian influenza A (H9N2). WHO has assessed the risk to the general population as low. Following this, the WHO has advised the following precautions: Vigilance, Hygiene, Surveillance, Discourages travel restrictions. Click here to read more.

India's fight against drug demand India's fight against drug demand Content Editor: Dr. Sumana Mukhopadhyay April 10, 2024 Press Information Bureau Deaddiction, Substance abuse The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, leads efforts to reduce drug demand through the N ational A ction P lan for D rug D emand R eduction (NAPDDR ), providing financial aid to states, NGOs, and hospitals. NAPDDR supports various initiatives, including: Integrated Rehabilitation Centers for Addicts (IRCAs), Community-based Peer-led Intervention (CPLI) programs, Outreach and Drop-In Centers (ODICs), Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs), District De-Addiction Centers (DDACs). Activities include- Geo-tagging facilities for easy access, A toll-free helpline (14446) for counseling and referral purposes , and The development of Navchetna modules for education . The N asha M ukt B harat A bhiyaan (NMBA ), launched in 2020, aims to raise awareness across all districts, targeting educational institutions, vulnerable populations, and service providers. Achievements include sensitizing over 10.73 crore people, involving 3.29 lakh educational institutions, and training over 8,000 Master Volunteers (MVs). Partnerships with spiritual/social service organizations further support NMBA's goals, with recent initiatives enhancing its impact. Outreach efforts, including social media campaigns, a mobile application, and a national online pledge, have successfully relayed the message. Click here to read more