Latest news with #DepartmentofHealthandFamilyWelfare


Deccan Herald
12-07-2025
- Health
- Deccan Herald
9 Japanese Encephalitis cases reported in Nagaland in 2025, health department issues advisory
The state's Department of Health and Family Welfare said that JE is a potentially severe viral infection transmitted by Culex mosquitoes, which breed in stagnant water sources like paddy fields and ponds.

The Hindu
11-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Awareness rally and pledge mark World Population Day
An awareness rally and the administering of pledge highlighting the importance of population control marked the observance of World Population Day in Erode on Friday. The event, organised by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, was held on the District Collectorate premises to raise public awareness about the consequences of population growth and the significance of family planning. Collector S. Kandasamy administered the awareness pledge, distributed pamphlets and saplings to the public, and also presented awards and certificates to three students who won in elocution competitions held in connection with the observance. Observed globally every year on July 11 since 1987, World Population Day seeks to highlight the challenges posed by overpopulation and the need for sustainable family planning practices. The theme for 2025 is 'Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world.' The Collector also flagged off an awareness rally, in which nursing students participated, carrying placards with messages such as, 'Let's protect and care for the girl child', 'Adopt modern vasectomy', 'Reduce the burden on women', 'Encourage male sterilization' and 'Prevent child marriages'. The rally proceeded through Perundurai Road and concluded at Kalingarayan Illam, spreading key messages about reproductive health and gender equality. Senior Health Department officials, including Santhakumari, Joint Director of Welfare Services, P. Aruna, Deputy Director of Health Services, and Gopalakrishnan, Deputy Director (Family Welfare), were present along with other officials and staff.

The Hindu
10-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Greater awareness on dementia and cognitive decline needed, says expert
A two-day international conference — CogniSENSE+ 2025 — focused on various scientific disciplines working in areas related to dementia awareness, healthy aging, and cognitive health - began at Sri Rajendra centenary auditorium in JSS Hospital here on Thursday. The event brought together leading experts, researchers, and policymakers from India and abroad to address the growing global challenge of cognitive and sensory decline, and the urgent need for integrated public health strategies to enhance and ensure quality of life for the elderly. Inaugurating the event, Radha S. Murthy, president, Dementia India Alliance, spoke on the increasing dementia burden, and called for greater public awareness to combat the stigma associated with cognitive decline. She also underscored the necessity of integrated care systems and enhanced training for caregivers and healthcare professionals. Rajini P., Deputy Director, Mental Health Directorate, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Karnataka, spoke on the State's Brain Health initiative, and described it as an effective and community-based model, while emphasising on the need for early screening, robust public health infrastructure, and State-level planning to address cognitive and mental health challenges. H. Basavana Gowdappa, vice-chancellor, JSS AHER, highlighted the importance of collaborative, multidisciplinary efforts and policy-level reforms, while emphasising the role of global partnerships and research-driven strategies in improving dementia care and public health outcomes. Narayanappa D., principal, JSS Medical College, underscored the need for patient-centric dementia care and the responsibility of academic institutions in enhancing medical education on cognitive health. Community engagement and early diagnostic initiatives are key, he added. The conference, featuring expert talks from more than 20 resource persons and 60 scientific research presentations in related themes, aims to raise a collective call for action for increased funding, stronger global collaborations, and improved support systems for individuals and families affected by dementia and other cognitive disorders. More than 250 participants from across the nation are attending the conference.

The Hindu
08-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Revanna holds meeting with HIMS, Health Dept. officers over sudden deaths in Hassan
Former Minister and Holenarasipur MLA H.D. Revanna, on Tuesday, held a meeting with officers of Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences and the Department of Health and Family Welfare regarding the recent sudden deaths reported in Hassan district. Mr. Revanna told the officers that the people were in shock over a series of deaths due to heart-related ailments. Many private hospitals and clinics have been allegedly using this opportunity to make money by charging high fee for tests. The officers should ensure the government ambulances work throughout the day and do not take patients to private hospitals, he said. He pointed out that the district has a medical college and a super-speciality hospital as well. Given the facilities available, the patients need not go to private hospitals. He also instructed the officials to take action against the doctors who recommend patients to private hospitals. Speaking to press persons, the JD(S) MLA pointed out the absence of a Cath Lab system, an interventional imaging platform helpful to treat people with heart problems, at the HIMS. He said that the system had not been set up even after it was sanctioned and the institute had sufficient funds to procure it. He demanded that the HIMS should conduct Electrocardiogram (ECG) and Echocardiogram (Echo) tests, free of cost, utilising the user's fund of the institute. Citing addiction to alcohol as one of the reasons for heart attacks, Mr. Revanna suggested closing liquor shops by 8 p.m. in Hassan city. Legislators A. Manju, C.N. Balakrishna, H.P. Swaroop, HIMS director B. Rajanna, and DHO Anil Kumar, among others were present at the meeting.


The Hindu
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Taking the cue from Chiranjeevi
A diehard Chiranjeevi fan, Hemanth Kumar Sharma started donating blood after he turned 18 inspired by the actor. 'Audio cassettes featuring Chiranjeevi movies would have lines by the actor requesting people to donate blood and that is how I got started on donating blood as a small gesture to my idol,' says 33-year-old Hemanth, who was among those honoured at a World Blood Donor Day celebration in Chennai. Hemanth works as a pujari in Sullurpeta, a small town bordering Tamil Nadu, and has built an army of volunteers by conducting blood donation camps under the banner of Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust. But what is more commendable about him is that he does not hesitate to travel to Chennai every time he is presented with a request from any of the groups to donate blood. 'It was Srivatsav Vema of Platelet Club who motivated me to start donating SDP or Single Donor Platelets and until today I have volunteered more than 40 times,' says Hemanth who has given blood more than 30 times. Unlike regular blood donation, platelet donation is time-consuming.'This takes at least two hours. First they collect the sample, screen it and start the process for donation. One can donate SDP once in 15 to 30 days,' he says. At his home town, Hemanth conducts SDP camps four times a year and he donates the collected SDPs to the Indian Red Cross Society. Blood donors honoured at an event organised by the Department of Health and Family Welfare More than 100 volunteers from across Tamil Nadu were honoured by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Tamil Nadu at Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital, Omandurar Government Estate, to commemorate World Blood Donors Day observed on June 14. One of the eligibility criteria set by the Department was that the individual should have donated blood for a minimum of 50 times. From Chennai, 15 volunteers of the Platelet Club were honoured at the event. 'We have close to 40 people who have donated more than 50 times but we could gather only 15 of them in the short notice that we got,' says Srivatsav Vema, who runs the Platelet Club. Donating blood is an unshakeable habit for many of them in the Club. Rohith Fernandes, for example, has donated blood 221 times; Karthik Natarajan 252 times; and Poorna Chandran 200 times. There are many others in the 100s club including Kishore Gupta (182), Muthukumarasamy R. (100), Suresh Kumar (112), R. Vallinayagam (110), Naresh E. (183) and Baskaran from Villupuram (160). The blood donation camps organised by Srivatsav Vema and his team of donors are exclusively for government hospitals. A key feature of this club is they donate platelets that is used for those undergoing treatment for cancer, dengue and for transplantation surgery.