National Push for Enhanced Healthcare Resilience Against Fire & Disasters National Push for Enhanced Healthcare Resilience Against Fire & Disasters Content Editor: Dr. Shayari May 24, 2025 Press Information Bureau Fire Safety and Disaster Preparedness Union Health Minister Mr. JP Nadda inaugurated the 2nd National Workshop on ‘Health Sector Disaster Preparedness and Response’ and ‘Fire Safety in Healthcare Facilities’. He emphasised the urgent need for improved capacity building and awareness across all levels of the healthcare delivery system. Key Takeaways: All healthcare personnel, in both public and private sectors, require robust and comprehensive training for disaster response. Mr. Nadda highlighted the necessity of regular fire safety audits to prevent incidents. He warned that insensitivity towards preparedness can lead to carelessness and devastating "sparks of disaster.” An iGOT (I ntegrated G overnment O nline T raining) e-learning course on ‘Fire Safety in Healthcare Facilities’ was launched on the iGOT Karmayogi platform (igotkarmayogi.gov.in) , which is the dedicated portal for online training for government employees. The workshop aims to develop actionable strategies for more resilient healthcare services nationwide.

Salmonella: An adulterant Content Editor: Dr. Gurumurthy May 4, 2024 at 2:30:00 PM Adulterant, Food-borne disease The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has declared Salmonella an adulterant in raw breaded stuffed chicken products with over 1 colony forming unit (CFU) per gram. This decision is part of a broader strategy to reduce Salmonella-related illnesses from raw poultry in the U.S., with plans to expand the policy to additional poultry products. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted this policy as a key enhancement to food safety, initiated under President Biden's administration. FSIS will enforce strict pre-production testing and prohibit the use of contaminated lots in product manufacturing, starting 12 months after the policy's publication. This move addresses persistent health risks and aligns with the USDA's commitment to consumer protection and fair labeling practices. Click here to read more. Previous Next

Three-Step approach - the anganwadi protocol for divyang children Three-Step approach - the anganwadi protocol for divyang children Content Editor: Dr. Manjeet Mohanty December 13, 2023 Press Information Bureau Health Programme Protocol, Anganwadi Centres Union Minister Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani recently launched the Anganwadi Protocol for Divyang Children. This protocol, part of the POSHAN Abhiyan , adopts a three-step approach : Screening for Early Disability Signs Community Inclusion, and Referral support through ASHA/ANM/ RBSK teams. It addresses education and nutrition needs, providing Swavlamban Cards for empowerment. This protocol marks a significant stride in creating a nurturing environment for divyang children, fostering inclusion, and celebrating diversity.

India’s indigenous Nasal COVID vaccine - iNCOVACC : BBV154 India’s indigenous Nasal COVID vaccine - iNCOVACC : BBV154 January 28, 2023 The Tribune Vaccination, COVID-19 iNCOVACC: BBV154 - novel adenovirus vectored, intranasal vaccine for COVID-19, developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance was launched on Republic day by the Union Health minister. Approved for Primary, 2-dose series: 8 drops (0.5 mL per dose), 4 drops are administered into each nostril. Single booster dose: at ≥6 months after completion of primary schedule of Covishield or Covaxin. Characteristics of iNCOVACC Stimulate both local and systemic immune response. Likely to prevent infection and transmission of COVID-19. Non-invasive, Needle-free (eliminating associated risks of injuries and infection). Ease of administration – does not require trained health care workers. Rollout to begin in private hospitals; at Rs 325 a dose.

Declining psychological well-being: An early indicator of cognitive impairment in older adults Declining psychological well-being: An early indicator of cognitive impairment in older adults Content Editor: Dr. Prachi September 13, 2024 JAMA Network Older adults, Mental health, Cognition The study explored the trajectories of psychological well-being in older adults preceding the development of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia. It aimed to understand how psychological well-being and its components change over time in individuals who transition from being cognitively healthy to experiencing MCI and dementia. Poor psychological well-being is linked to increased dementia risk, but changes over time are unclear. The study followed 910 cognitively intact older adults for up to 14 years , measuring psychological well-being and its components annually. Those who developed mild cognitive impairment (MCI) experienced faster declines in overall psychological well-being, noticeable two years before diagnosis. Specific components like purpose in life and personal growth declined earlier: 3 years and 6 years before MCI diagnosis, respectively. After the MCI diagnosis, most well-being components declined at similar rates , except for "positive relations with others," which declined faster.

Racial and gender disparities in carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales infections Content Editor: Dr. Gurumurthy May 7, 2024 at 12:30:00 PM Antibiotic resistance, Racial difference The study conducted by Ruffin et al., from April 2016 to November 2019, involved 362 patients hospitalized in U.S. hospitals with bloodstream infections (BSI) caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE). These 362 encompassed both Black and White racial groups. The findings indicated that Black females were more likely to be admitted from long-term care facilities and had higher rates of heart infections. In contrast, Black males were generally younger and more prone to cerebrovascular disease. Among the Whites, malignancy was the reason for the hospital admission of 39% of White males and 39% of White females. The primary source of infection for both Black females (32%) and White males (27%) was often unidentified. An independent predictor of 30-day mortality was the interaction between sex and race (p=0.016). Notably, Black females exhibited a higher 30-day mortality rate compared to Black males (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) - 2.59, 95% CI 1.02 - 6.56) and White females (aOR 2.15, 95% CI 1.01 - 4.58). Previous Next

India to be the Global Hub for Millets ("Shree Anna") India to be the Global Hub for Millets ("Shree Anna") February 2, 2023 The Indian Express International Year of Millets-2023, Nutrition India is the largest producer and second largest exporter of millets in the world. Referring to millets as 'Shree Anna', the finance minister aims to make India a global hub for millets. The Indian Institute of Millet Research, Hyderabad will be supported as the Centre of Excellence for sharing best practices, research and technologies at the international level. The Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Program will be launched to boost the availability of disease free, quality planting material for high value horticultural crops like fruits, vegetables, flowers at an outlay of Rs 2,200 crore (Union Budget 2023-24).

Listeria outbreak associated with ice-cream cups, reported from USA Content Editor: Dr. Himabindu Reddy August 23, 2023 at 12:30:00 PM Public health, Outbreak, Listeria Laboratory experts are attempting to identify whether the Listeria found in a "Soft Serve On The Go" ice cream cup taken from a sick person's freezer is the outbreak strain. CDC speculates that the true number of cases may be in excess to the number reported and spread in more states. This underestimation is partly because most cases recover before being tested and without medical intervention. Nationwide recall of the food product involved (soft serve ice-cream cups) is in process. CDC advices all US citizens to either discard the product from their homes or return to shop for a refund. Listeria is more dangerous in pregnant and elderly, so these populations have been advised to take necessary caution. Previous Next

Shankar Centre of Excellence for Diabetes Research: IIT's continued contribution to global efforts against diabetes Content Editor: Dr. Manu November 6, 2024 at 5:00:00 PM Diabetes, Research, Non-communicable diseases In September 2024, the Shankar Centre of Excellence for Diabetes Research (SCoEDR) was launched at IIT Madras as part of the Department of Medical Sciences and Technology (DMST). Subramonian Shankar , an institute alumnus and the founder of AmZetta Technologies, a leading computer technology brand, has funded it. It has also collaborated with the Emory Global Diabetes Research Centre (EGDCR) at Emory University in the US. The center aims to fund 15 PhD students in the coming years, called ‘Shankar Fellows, ’ to work on developing products and startups and commercializing diabetes management and treatment to combat this rising epidemic. They will also contribute to global efforts to develop academic research on diabetes. Click here to read more. Previous Next