Health dept takes steps to contain diseases
These districts are Rayagada, Kalahandi, Koraput, Kandhamal, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Boudh.
Similarly, two districts, namely Sundargarh and Khurda, reported a comparatively higher number of dengue cases last year.
Health and family welfare secretary Aswathy S at a meeting on Thursday directed officials to intensify preventive and surveillance activities in these districts. She asked them to ensure actual use of LLINs by people in their houses. The chief district medical and public health officers were asked to ensure this with the help of ASHA workers and multi-purpose health workers (MPHWs) in villages and wards.
In the meeting, it was decided that senior officers from the directorate of public health and the National Health Mission (NHM) would go to the grassroots level and ensure 100% use of LLINs, availability of testing devices, sufficient stock of drugs, active surveillance, screening, and testing. Director of public health Nilakantha Mishra was advised to draw a detailed schedule for the movement of officers to districts.
While reviewing the preparedness, the health secretary directed intensification of wide awareness activities at the grassroots level and ensure sufficient stock of required drugs at different levels, ranging from ASHA workers to sub-centres, primary health centres, community health centres, sub-divisional and district quarter hospitals. Aswathy also directed mobilisation of the community and orient them towards preventive practices involving women self-help groups (WSHGs), community leaders, and MPWHs.
It was also decided at the meeting to issue advisories for proper cleaning of overhead water tanks and sanitisation of water sources in residential complexes or hostels before the reopening of educational institutions. The issues relating to regular water quality testing, disinfection, and monitoring in rural and urban areas were also discussed. The activities would be carried out in a targeted campaign mode under the supervision of NHM mission director Brundha D.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Health ATM offers free diagnosis, remote consultation at Civil Hospital in Gurgaon
Gurgaon: In a quiet corner of Sector 10 Civil Hospital, a small machine — no bigger than a photo booth — is silently reshaping access to healthcare. At this health ATM, described as a "digital clinic packed with potential", patients can consult a doctor live via video, get an instant e-prescription and receive their reports directly on WhatsApp, email or SMS: all within 45 to 50 minutes. From blood pressure and blood sugar to ECG, BMI and psychological screening — this health ATM offers more than 20 medical tests free of cost. Patients have started calling the health ATM "easy and fast" even as the machine speaks multiple languages, includes voice instructions and supports both Aadhaar cards and phone numbers. Health officials are watching the experiment closely. Principal medical officer Dr Lokveer Singh said, "We have one health ATM in the city and others in Sohna, Rewari and Narnaul. The govt may set up more. These kiosks are getting a lot of attention." You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon For Rekha Devi, a 52-year-old domestic worker from Manesar, it made a real difference. "My blood sugar was acting up and I didn't have time to wait in long queues," she said. I got tested, talked to a doctor and my report came straight to my phone. It was easy and fast." For those unfamiliar with tech, ASHA workers like Sushma step in to guide them through the process. "People who never went for regular check-ups are now using it weekly," Sushma said, adding, "And they are coming back for follow-ups because their records are easy to access." That's the real game-changer: continuity of care. In a system where medical history is often lost in paper files — or never recorded at all — the health ATM creates a digital trail. "It's not just about one test," Sushma continued, "It's about staying connected to your health." What it offers The kiosk provides a basic yet meaningful screening package that can flag early signs of illness and track overall well-being. These include nearly 20 diagnostic and wellness tests. These include basic screenings like blood pressure, blood sugar, body temperature, BMI and oxygen saturation, as well as more targeted checks such as ECG and hemoglobin. For broader health insights, it can run lipid profiles, liver and kidney function tests and HbA1c for long-term glucose control. It also includes a CBC (complete blood count) and urine analysis. Kiosks have built-in psychological well-being screens that assess stress, anxiety and mood through brief self-assessments on the touchscreen. Vision and hearing checks round out the list, making it a genuinely holistic diagnostic tool — especially for people who may never otherwise access this kind of comprehensive health screening. These are optional and often guided by prompts on the screen, giving users a private and non-judgmental space to reflect on their mental health. The impact The numbers are modest: only six to seven patients can use the kiosk each day due to the time each check-up takes. But the impact isn't about volume. It's about who gets served. E-rickshaw driver Shubham tried it out of curiosity. "I didn't know machines like this existed. It had Hindi instructions and voice help. They checked my hemoglobin and ECG. I felt taken care of," he said.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Time of India
10.18 crore women screened for cervical cancer under Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and NHM
New Delhi: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has achieved a major milestone in women's health, with over 10.18 crore women aged 30 years and above screened for cervical cancer across the country. This achievement is part of the population-based initiative for screening, prevention, and management of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), being implemented under the National Health Mission (NHM) through the Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs). The screening programme targets women in the 30 to 65 years age group, using the Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) method. Screenings are primarily conducted at Sub-Health Centres and Primary Health Centres under AAMs by trained health workers. Women who test VIA-positive are referred to higher centres for diagnostic confirmation and further evaluation. At the grassroots level, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) play a vital role in identifying individuals at risk using the Community-Based Assessment Checklist (CBAC) and facilitating their participation in screening and check-ups at AAMs. ASHAs also help generate awareness about the importance of early detection and adopting a healthy lifestyle. Promotion of wellness activities and targeted communication campaigns at the community level further support the preventive aspect of cancer control. Events such as National Cancer Awareness Day and World Cancer Day are observed regularly. Additionally, the use of print, electronic, and social media platforms ensures continuous public engagement on NCDs, including cervical cancer. Under NHM, States and Union Territories are provided with dedicated funds for awareness generation activities as per their Program Implementation Plans (PIPs). To accelerate screening coverage, the Ministry had launched a time-bound NCD Screening Campaign from February 20 to March 31, 2025, focusing on individuals aged 30 years and above. The campaign played a crucial role in achieving the current milestone. As of 20th July 2025, data from the National NCD Portal indicates that 10.18 crore women out of an eligible population of 25.42 crore females aged 30 years and above have been screened for cervical cancer, reflecting the government's strong commitment to comprehensive and preventive healthcare delivery through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Friday.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
ASHAs to continue stir till demands met
T'puram: While the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) have welcomed the Centre's decision to raise their monthly incentive to Rs 3,500, they said they will continue their ongoing strike until the state govt increases their honorarium. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now With their strike completing 169 days on Saturday, ASHAs said they wanted the state govt to increase its share correspondingly. The state govt stated that they have increased their share of the honorarium to the maximum and have set up a committee to study the problems faced by the health workers under National Health Mission. On Saturday, the ASHAs remained at their protest location in front of the Secretariat. Their leader Mini S said the protest would continue until the state govt increases its share. The state share is Rs 7,000. After the increase by Centre, ASHAs will now receive Rs 15,000 as honorarium. However, many other states, including Maharashtra, are giving Rs 10,000 as their share, she added. BJP state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar, meanwhile, said the central govt has kept its promise and the state should promptly increase the wages of ASHAs. The central govt has reiterated in Parliament that decisions on administrative and human resource issues, including those of ASHAs in the health sector, should be made by the respective state govts, he added. The central govt is providing all possible benefits for ASHAs, recognising them as frontline warriors in the health sector, Chandrasekhar said. tnn
