As April 2nd marks World Autism Awareness Day, there is a prime opportunity to talk about autism in India – a health issue that is too often overlooked. An estimated three million people live with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) on the Indian subcontinent according to a 2018 paper. That report notes that “there has been […]
National
Migrants sprayed with disinfectant: The latest controversy
The Union Government’s decision to implement a quarantine affecting 1.3 billion has alternately been praised and criticised – some deeming it necessary to counteract a large-scale coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, others deeming it draconian and callous. However, fresh controversies have surfaced in recent days surrounding the impact on migrant workers. Footage has been unearthed showing a […]
Quarantine at Nehru Stadium
The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi is to be repurposed as a quarantine facility to help combat the COVID-19 outbreak in India. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) relinquished the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to the Delhi state government. The SAI announced last month that sports facilities under its purview could be used for quarantine purposes. […]
PPE kits dispatched to hospitals, more ordered
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has announced provisions for the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) kits to the nation’s healthcare providers amidst the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak. Already, 60,000 PPE kits have been procured by the Union Health Ministry for hospitals so healthcare workers can safeguard themselves against COVID-19. 3.34 lakh PPEs […]
COVID-19 testing: Is India falling behind?
“Test, test, test,” is among the most resounding messages issued by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), during the coronavirus pandemic. However, when it comes to COVID-19 testing, is India falling behind? “We have not seen an urgent enough escalation in testing, isolation and contact tracing – which is the […]
Community transmission of COVID-19 in India?
The Union Government has seemingly confirmed “limited community transmission” of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in India but said the country is not in the third stage of the COVID-19 outbreak yet. The current scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic in India is local transmission with limited community transmission. This acknowledgement came in standard operating procedure guidelines outlined […]
AYUSH practitioners: Modi reaches out
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached out to Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) practitioners to participate in efforts to tackle the disease – while also cautioning against promoting unproven cures. Modi interacted with AYUSH practitioners via videoconferencing over the weekend and suggested that they could benefit the […]
Mental health helpline amidst COVID-19
A mental health helpline is being launched to support Indians during the COVID-19 lockdown. Indians can avail a consultation by the helpline, which is reachable toll-free on 08046110007. Launched by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), based in Karnataka state capital Bengaluru, the mental health helpline will serve to address “mental and […]
“Hunger will kill us before any disease does”
“Hunger will kill us before any disease does.” These were the harrowing words of Rampal, a rickshaw driver from Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh who queues daily at a government-run food shelter. Rampal’s words have already rung true for some. An eight-year-old boy named Rakesh Musahar, a resident of Arrah’s Jawahar Tola’s slum area in Bhojpur […]
Coronavirus to disrupt TB medicine supply?
World TB [Tuberculosis] Day was observed on March 14. A number of points were raised regarding progress against the disease. However, in the era of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, fears were also raised over supply chains – including by the World Health Organization (WHO). Officials of the WHO noted that, due to the pandemic and […]