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Hindustan Times
09-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Fertility doctor suggests early tests that could save your parenthood dreams
Many couples today face difficulties when trying to conceive. Infertility is more common than people think, affecting as many as 1 in 6 couples globally. Can't conceive? These simple blood tests may hold the answer, says expert.(Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash) In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Sneha Sathe, Clinical Director at Nova IVF Fertility in Mumbai's Chembur, shared, 'One of the best ways to take charge of your fertility is to get tested early. Fertility testing can give valuable insights into your reproductive health and guide your next steps, whether it's lifestyle changes, medications, or treatments like IUI and IVF.' Why testing matters Dr Sneha Sathe said, 'If you've been trying to get pregnant for a while without success, it can be overwhelming. Many couples feel ashamed, anxious or discouraged. Getting tested can help bring clarity. Early fertility testing can identify problems if any, but just as often, it can offer reassurance.' She added, 'Sadly, many couples delay testing- often because they aren't aware it exists, they think it's only for couples who have been trying for many years, or they worry that it's too complex and invasive. The truth is, understanding your fertility sooner can make all the difference. For women, tests focus on things like ovulation, hormone levels and the health of the uterus and fallopian tubes. For men, semen analysis gives information about sperm count, movement, and shape — all of which play a role in fertility.' Basic tests all couples should start with Before moving to more detailed tests, Dr Sneha Sathe advised couples to do general tests that provide essential health information. Fertility: Reproductive health tests that men, women should opt for without fail (Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels) Blood Tests for Both Partners: 1. Blood group and compatibility check 2. Complete blood count (CBC) 3. Screening for infections like HIV, hepatitis B and C 4. Blood sugar 5. Vitamin D level 6. In some cases, liver and kidney function tests Extra Tests for Women: 1. Thyroid test (TSH) 2. Prolactin level Fertility Tests for Women 1. AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone): to assess egg reserve 2. Ultrasound scan: to check the uterus and ovaries, 3. HSG (Hysterosalpingography) or Sonohysterogram (SSG): to check if the fallopian tubes are open. They're not usually part of the first round of testing. Your doctor may recommend them at a later stage — especially if all other test results are normal and you've been trying to conceive for a while without success.. Fertility Tests for Men Doctor lists male fertility tests for men experiencing infertility or with testicular damage, erectile dysfunction, cancer treatment, mumps infection, urinary tract surgery.(Image by EVG Kowalievska ) Male fertility is just as important and testing is simple and painless in most cases. 1. Semen analysis: This is the key test. It checks the sperm count, movement (motility), and shape (morphology). 2. In some cases hormone tests and/or genetic tests Why early testing helps For women, age is the biggest determinant of fertility. Dr Sneha Sathe said, 'Fertility starts declining with age and drops more sharply after 35. That's because both the number and quality of eggs go down with age. Early testing helps you plan better, especially if you're over 30 or have other risk factors.' She concluded, 'If you've been trying to conceive for over a year (or 6 months if over 35years), it's a good idea to get tested. Most of the basic tests just need a single blood sample or a semen sample. Your fertility doctor will look at the results and suggest what to do next, based on your individual situation. Timely testing, honest conversations with your doctor, and a supportive approach can make all the difference. The goal is simple — to help you become parents, in the healthiest and safest way possible.' Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Indian Express
‘I knew they were dead…': Survivors recall minutes after part of Gujarat bridge gave way
'Maro Dikro doobi gayo, Maro Gharwalo Dubi gayo… (My son has drowned, my husband has drowned… Save us…)' Among the first scenes from the site of the Mujpur-Gambhira bridge collapse in Vadodara district early on Wednesday morning, was a heartrending video showing a woman in a pink saree, calling for help to save her family members. The woman, a resident of Dariyapura near Mujpur, has been identified as Sonalben Ramesh Padhiyar, 46, who was travelling in an Eeco car with eight other family members, including her two minor grandchildren, when a part of the bridge collapsed on the end of Vadodara district. Barring Sonalben, all the occupants of the vehicle are feared dead in the accident. At SSG hospital in Vadodara, where she has been wheeled in with three other survivors, Sonalben is distraught. What was planned to be an outing to a place of worship to mark Guru Purnima, turned into a tragedy for the family. Sonalben says, 'We had set out from Dariyapura to Bagdana (Saurashtra) for pilgrimage for Guru Purnima around 7am. There were a few motorcycles, a truck and our car around us when the bridge suddenly collapsed. We just fell in a matter of seconds… Before we could even realise what happened, the vehicle had hit the water surface and was pulled into the river…' When asked about the video in which she was seen crying for help, Sonalben says, 'I was calling out to people to help my family… All of them were in the vehicle. I was the only one who managed to come out as I was in the rear. My husband, son, daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren as well as two other relatives were in the vehicle. It had fallen head first so there was no way they could have come out…' The 45-year-old says that it was about an hour after the accident that help arrived. 'No one came to help me… My entire family remained in water for that time. I knew I had lost them, who would survive such a car crash into Mahisagar? My grandson was the youngest, only two years old… It was after the police and other rescue team arrived with a boat that I came out. I don't know where the rest of my family is…' Another survivor pulled out from the river is Dilipsinh Padhiyar, a resident of Nani Sherdi village in Borsad taluka of Anand district. Dilipsinh was riding his two-wheeler and returning from the night-shift duty at a pharma company in Bharuch when the accident occurred. 'I was on top of the bridge and traffic was moving as usual… I had barely covered 100 meters on the bridge when I felt a vibration and suddenly, the bridge had given way. I found myself falling into the river,' says Dilipsinh. He says, 'I had suffered injuries but somehow, I gathered my inner strength and held on to some metal rod, I don't know what it was. I climbed up and tried to stay afloat until help arrived… The local fishermen were the first to arrive with boats.' Raju Doda Hathiya, a resident of Dwarka, who was driving a pick-up van from Dwarka to Ankleshwar, was among those who fell into the river as the vehicles plunged. Hathiya, who was rushed to the SSG hospital in Vadodara, says that the fall was 'sudden'. Hathiya says, 'There were two people in my vehicle.. going from Dwarka to Ankleshwar. I am not sure where my helper is… The truck just fell into the water. I came out from my side and sat on the top of the vehicle… Later, someone came and pulled me out in a boat.' Hathiya says that at the time the portion of the bridge collapsed, there were at least three vehicles around him, apart from a couple of motorcycles. 'Saw the bridge falling like a pack of cards' Two men who had a 'miraculous escape' recounted their moment of panic. Anwar Mohammad, a resident of Borsad, who was on his way to Jambusar in Bharuch district for work along with two other persons in a van, says he abandoned his vehicle to save his life. 'We were just crossing the part that collapsed when I heard the sound of the bridge falling apart. Immediately, the three of us jumped out of the van and ran… We saw the bridge falling like a pack of cards. Our van fell into the river… Had we managed to drive just a few metres ahead, the van would have also been safe.' Two men from Kinkhlod, Mahesh Parmar and Vijay Parmar, say they 'missed a heart's beat' when they realised that the bridge was collapsing. 'We had left our village for the day's work… When we came over the bridge, riding our motorcycle, and it began to collapse, fear gripped us but I managed to press the brakes in time and bring the motorcycle to a halt. We abandoned our two-wheeler and ran to save our lives. Later, as things settled, we slowly climbed back on to the bridge to see what had happened. Several vehicles had plunged into the river. It was a tragic and heart-breaking scene… But for a moment earlier, we had missed a heart beat too.'
CNA
09-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
New SkillsFuture registry to boost quality of educators with regular training from next April
SINGAPORE: SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) is aiming to level up the quality of its educators through a new national registry. The lifelong learning statutory board said these efforts are part of an initiative called the Training and Adult Educator Professional Pathway (TAEPP). The initiative is developed by the Institute for Adult Learning (IAL) with the support of SSG to improve the professionalism of the training and adult education sector. Educators delivering SSG-supported training will be required to be on the new registry from Apr 1 next year. The registration process will commence from the fourth quarter this year. The TAEPP aims to ensure those on the registry continuously upskill and improve lesson content to stay relevant. TRAINING THE TRAINERS The initiative intends to upgrade the skills of about 11,000 adult educators, according to SSG. It also allows employers across sectors to tap a stronger training ecosystem to benefit employees. '(Adult educators) are the linchpin in terms of enabling our industry to transform … The students are the adult learners. Adult learners are the ones who are working in the industry with all the changes that's happening so rapidly,' said Dr Samson Tan, director of learning and professional development at the IAL. 'A competent, current adult educator with the right skills for delivering and enabling them to perform in the workplace is important and essential.' Dr Tan told CNA that the TAEPP will shift the focus from one-off certifications for educators towards continuous professional development. The TAEPP will also recruit industry practitioners to serve as registered educators. For a start, it is identifying suitable experts in the healthcare and legal sectors. To remain on the SSG registry, educators will need to renew their status every two years through clocking at least 40 hours of continuing professional development and 80 hours of teaching. NTUC LearningHub's assistant chief executive and chief sector skills officer Tay Ee Learn said that the pathway allows training providers a broader and more sustainable access to trainers. '(It can) help us to scale our supply of training to meet (current and future) demand,' he added. Mr Tay noted that NTUC LearningHub also offers online platforms to help make training and skills upgrading more accessible to educators in fulfilling the required practice hours. A MARK OF CREDIBILITY Ms Clare Poon, who teaches weekly classes for learners seeking to become trainers, is among those who welcomed the initiative. She said that being listed in the new registry will boost her credibility as an adult educator and will help with getting more clients. 'Our work is pretty competitive, so having that recognition can be an added advantage when we look for training opportunities or project engagement,' she said. 'It is also a reminder for us to keep track of our own professional development.' Ms Poon uses a blend of lesson types – online, face-to-face classes and workplace learning – to teach her students how adults learn and how artificial intelligence can be used in lessons. She noted that trainers like herself play a role to create meaningful learning experiences and spaces for students to discuss, participate and actively engage in the learning process. INVESTING IN THE WORKFORCE Education Minister Desmond Lee noted that such efforts go a long way in preparing the workforce for the challenges ahead. 'Global trade tensions and eroding global norms are creating a lot of economic (and) job uncertainties. This can be unsettling for our businesses who will find it challenging to plan ahead,' Mr Lee said at the opening of the SkillsFuture Festival on Monday (Jul 7). He added that as technology continues to evolve, jobs and livelihoods could be transformed or disrupted. Hence, the government is committed to work with Singaporeans, industries and training providers to ensure workers remain relevant, he said. 'We must invest even more in our people, ensure that Singaporeans can adapt to change, retain our competitive advantage and remain a valuable partner to the rest of the world,' he added.
Business Times
07-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Professionalisation of adult educators, more ‘Queen Bee' companies among SkillsFuture updates
[SINGAPORE] The SkillsFuture movement is bringing greater professionalisation of adult educators – including a national registry – and more 'Queen Bee' companies that lead others in workforce skills development. The Lifelong Learning Institute, which will be rebranded to Lifelong Learning Singapore, will also have more facilities and offerings. At the opening of the annual SkillsFuture Festival on Monday (Jul 7), Minister for Education Desmond Lee highlighted three aims of the next phase of the SkillsFuture movement. First, raising the quality of Singapore's training and adult education (TAE) sector; second, strengthening employers' commitment to training; and third, getting individuals to take more ownership of their skills development. First, a new Training and Adult Educator Professional Pathway aims to keep such educators updated and professionalise the industry. 'The one-off certification programme we have today will not be enough,' said Lee. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up A national registry will therefore be set up, serving as a consolidated database of qualified and practising adult educators. From Apr 1, 2026, AEs must be on the registry to deliver training that is supported by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG). Registration opens in the fourth quarter of 2025. To stay registered, they must complete at least 40 Continuing Professional Development hours and 80 practice hours every two years. The pathway is developed by the Institute for Adult Learning (IAL), with the support of SSG.. To bring in more adult educators with current and relevant knowledge and experience, the pathway will also increase the ways in which expert practitioners in selected professional sectors can be certified as adult educators. IAL and SSG will work with sectoral leads – such as the Singapore Academy of Law – to identify experts and nominate them to register. They will begin with the healthcare and legal sectors before expanding to various other sectors. Helping employers Second, the SkillsFuture movement aims to help employers better develop their workforce. This is not just by creating conditions for workers to pursue training, but also recognising and rewarding employees for skills attained, said Lee. While it is natural for employers to worry that their staff will leave after getting support for skills upgrading, everyone will be worse off if Singapore does not build up its human capital and resilience, he said. SkillsFuture will continue to grow Queen Bee companies that help smaller companies train their staff. As at March 2025, 37 such Queen Bees have provided training and advisory to 5,770 participating companies. Participating companies sent an average of three times more workers for training, compared with non-participating companies, said Lee. Of these, 86 per cent reported positive business impact from the programme. About 80 per cent of beneficiaries are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). UOB will be the newest Queen Bee, with Lee announcing its three-year appointment on Monday. The bank has launched an SME Elevate Programme to champion skills development in artificial intelligence (AI), digitalisation and sustainability. This will benefit about 200 SMEs and 800 of their employees. The programme will include workshops, funding support for approved courses, one-to-one mentorship, access to UOB's financial literacy and banking solutions and networking opportunities. On Monday, UOB also signed Memoranda of Understanding with three institutes of higher learning – National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and Ngee Ann Polytechnic – under the SkillsFuture Queen Bee initiative. It will leverage their expertise to design targeted upskilling content, co-developing training curriculums, workshops, advisory and mentorship initiatives for SMEs in high-growth areas such as AI, digitalisation and sustainability. Lifelong Learning Singapore Finally, to encourage Singaporeans to take ownership of their skills development, the Lifelong Learning Institute will be enhanced. To be rebranded as Lifelong Learning Singapore (LLSG), the institute will gain a new advisory centre that provides strengthened career guidance, up-to-date jobs-skills insights and opportunities for industry exposure. The institute will also organise more sectoral workshops, delivered together with employers and industry, said Lee, urging individuals to tap on these opportunities. This year's SkillsFuture Festival was launched with a forum themed 'Building Business Resilience and Enabling Career Growth through Skills Development', held at Raffles City Convention Centre. The festival, which runs from Jul 7 to Aug 18, will feature over 150 events.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Swachh Survekshan Grameen Survey (SSG) in Karnataka's DK from today; focus on rural sanitation progress, officials & villagers urged to cooperate
MANGALURU: The Swachh Survekshan Grameen (SSG) 2025 survey, a nationwide rural sanitation assessment undertaken by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti through the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, will begin in Dakshina Kannada district on July 7. Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat CEO Dr Anandh K has appealed to residents and officials in villages to extend their cooperation to ensure the survey's success. The survey aims to evaluate the progress of villages and districts based on sanitation indicators laid out under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G) Phase II guidelines. It will be carried out in Dakshina Kannada district from Monday. For this exercise, the Central Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation has appointed the Academy of Management Studies (AMS), Lucknow, as the survey agency, Dr Anandh said. AMS team members will visit Gram Panchayats to assess sanitation sustainability, focusing on the use of individual and community/public toilets, as well as the management of liquid and solid waste and overall cleanliness. The survey team will inspect Gram Panchayat offices, schools, Anganwadis, public spaces, markets, and bus stops. They will also hold discussions with Gram Panchayat officials, members of Self Help Groups (SHGs), and Village Water and Sanitation Committee (VWSC) members. The team may visit any Gram Panchayat in the district, and all concerned officials and staff are required to be present with complete records and relevant information to assist the team, the CEO added.
