Latest news with #Trusts
Hans India
12-07-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Tata Trusts' Public Health Awareness Campaign Highlights Reasons for Cervical Cancer Detection Delays, Promoting Early Screening
Sometimes, one of the hardest battles a woman fights is the one with herself – the doubt, silence, and hesitation to put herself first. Tata Trusts' public health awareness campaign, 'Khud Se Jeet,' captures this quiet conflict, urging women to seek timely cervical cancer screening and take charge of their health. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Indian women, claiming nearly 75,000 lives each year—often due to late detection. Despite being highly treatable in its early stages, with 95% of cases successfully managed if caught early, many women do not get screened in time. Millions of women continue overlooking symptoms – either due to a significant lack of awareness about cervical cancer and its symptoms, or fear, stigma, and a culture of silence that contributes to delayed screening. Tata Trusts' years of grassroots engagement – including by conducting over 26,000 cervical cancer screenings across Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Maharashtra in the last year, in collaboration with state governments and partners – has uncovered deep insights, revealing emotional and societal barriers that keep women from seeking help, even when it's available. Through its public health awareness initiatives, the Trusts aims to prompt women to replace hesitation with action. To spearhead awareness, Tata Trusts hosted a panel discussion, bringing together leading experts from oncology, psycho-oncology, and patient support to illustrate the problem, barriers to screening, key steps, and explore how we can change the conversation on cervical cancer in India. The session featured Dr Gauravi Mishra, Deputy Director, Center for Cancer Epidemiology, Tata Memorial Centre; Dr. Savita Goswami, Psycho-Oncologist at Tata Memorial Hospital; and Vandana Gupta, cancer survivor and founder of V Care Foundation. The session was moderated by Dr Rudradatta Shrotriya, Head Medical Operations, Tata Cancer Care Foundation, who commented, 'Cervical cancer's projected burden in India stands at 1.5 million Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), with the highest impact among women aged 30–65 in segments with the lowest awareness and access. The key challenges remain low awareness and inhibition: women who experience early symptoms do not connect them to cervical cancer, and those who do may delay action due to shame or fear. Many also are unaware that risk can exist even in the absence of symptoms, which makes screening vital. By raising awareness and taking steps to change the conversation around cervical cancer, we hope to foster a culture where women feel empowered to prioritize their health.' Tata Trusts also unveiled a social awareness film, highlighting a woman's inner conflict and journey through self-doubt, denial, and hesitation to a moment of transformation, where she chooses to pay attention to her symptoms and seek screening. By amplifying such narratives, the Trusts' aim to inspire more women to listen to their bodies and prioritize their health. Discussing this, Shilpi Ghosh, Communications Specialist, Tata Trusts, said, 'Khud Se Jeet was born from listening to women — their silence, their fears, their hesitation. Cervical cancer isn't just a medical issue; it's an emotional one, hidden in whispers and what-ifs. We realized that lack of access isn't the only hurdle; there is also the doubt that tells a woman not to act, speak, or put herself first. This campaign is our attempt to give her that nudge, to say: you matter, your health matters. Through every frame, every word, and every touchpoint, we want her to know that winning this battle within could mean gaining the life she deserves.'
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Health Department to establish neighbourhood system of care
The health minister Mike Nesbitt has said he plans to bring more services closer to communities as part of a reset plan for health and social care in Northern focus will be on establishing a neighbourhood centred system of care, that brings care as close as possible to those who need it, that tackles health inequalities, and that supports individuals to improve their own health and reset plan builds on the key themes of stabilisation, reform and delivery as published in the minister's three-year strategic plan in said it was a "defining and watershed year" for health and social care services with "challenges and opportunities of huge significance". The reset plan sets out measures to counter unprecedented financial pressures, with a projected £600m gap between available funding and the cost of maintaining existing services this is designed to achieve £300m in savings in 2025/26, in addition to the £200m delivered in 2024/25. The health minister said the programme will involve a suite of actions focused on improving Trust financial controls, reducing locum and agency costs, increasing workforce availability through absence reduction, removing unwarranted variation in clinical care and procurement, optimising medicines spend, reducing central budgets and administrative costs and maximising the income the HSC can attract through research and Nesbitt said he was not prepared to "face an ever-increasing gap between what our system costs and the funding we have available, resulting in continuing decline in our services, longer waiting lists, poorer outcomes, and an increasingly frustrated and demoralised workforce".He said it makes it "all the more critical" that there is focus on resetting the Health and Social Care system to deliver stabilisation, reform and delivery. The plan is focused on seven key areasPrevention and seeing the citizen as an asset in that taskInvesting in Primary Care, Community Care and Social Care; delivering mental, physical and social healthcare in a joined-up wayBeing as effective and efficient as we can with the resources we haveAdopting a whole systems approach; to optimise the whole of NI's health and care workforce and estate, and to reduce the level of unwarranted clinical variationMaximising digital investment and the strategic use of dataExploiting opportunities for research, supporting early adoption of new medical procedures and treatments; with the opportunity to attract the inward investment this bringsCreating the system and structure that supports collaborative working and decision making
Scoop
10-06-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Government Backing Rural Resilience And Wellbeing
Press Release – New Zealand Government Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson says the package reflects the realities of rural life and the need for practical, locally driven support. Hon Matt Doocey Minister for Mental Health Minister for Rural Communities The government is boosting support for rural resilience and wellbeing announced by Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson. 'We're backing Rural Support Trusts by committing $3 million over the next four years, to help improve rural communities' access to primary mental health services and specialist services,' Mr Doocey says. 'A range of services already exist, this is about making them easier to access, better connected, and focused on delivering support that makes a difference for people in rural communities. 'Whether it's help on the farm, over the phone, or at a local event, we're ensuring rural people know where to turn and can get support when they need it.' This funding is on top of the ongoing funding of $3 million over the next four years allocated to Rural Support Trusts through the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). 'The Government is also investing $2 million of Health funding in the Rural Wellbeing Fund. Building on from Budget announcements this means the Rural Wellbeing Fund will double to $4 million over the next four years,' Mr Doocey says. 'The Rural Wellbeing Fund will be specifically focused on supporting the wellbeing and resilience of hard-working New Zealanders who live outside of the major centres.' Mr Patterson says the package reflects the realities of rural life and the need for practical, locally driven support. 'I am delighted that we are bolstering funding to support those who need help the most – living rurally presents a unique set of challenges which include isolation and lack of services. When added pressures arise, rural people can find themselves facing challenging situations in need of mental wellbeing support. 'This is about investing in the people who drive our primary industries — and making sure they're connected to the right support, whether it's peer networks, wellbeing initiatives, or expert advice,' Mr Patterson says. 'It's about building resilience and supporting rural New Zealand to stay strong, stay productive, and keep powering the country forward.' 'When rural communities mental health and wellbeing are supported, economy is stronger for it,' Mr Doocey says.
Sky News
06-06-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Labour vows to tackle 'corridor care' and long waits with almost £450m NHS investment in England
Nearly £450m is being invested in the NHS in England to cut hospital waiting times and tackle persistently failing trusts, the health secretary has announced. Wes Streeting says his NHS reforms aim to deliver around 40 new centres to fast-track treatment for patients, up to 15 mental health crisis assessment units and almost 500 new ambulances. It is part of an attempt to shift patients away from A&E and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions. Analysis: "No patient should ever be left waiting for hours in hospital corridors or for an ambulance which ought to arrive in minutes," said Mr Streeting. "The package of investment and reforms we are announcing today will help the NHS treat more patients in the community, so they don't end up stuck on trolleys in A&E," he added. 1:39 In an example of the challenge facing the health secretary, Sky News on Wednesday revealed the scale of England's mental health crisis, exacerbated by a shortage of specialist beds and an overwhelmed social care network. The new Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for England says more needs to be done to drive down long waits, cut delayed discharges and improve care for patients. The document requires Trusts to reduce the number of patients waiting over 12 hours and make progress on "eliminating corridor care". It is estimated "over 800,000 people a month will receive more timely care". A&E league tables published A&E "league tables" will be published to drive up performance, including driving down delayed discharges from hospital. This can often impact elderly people when they are fit to leave but have additional care needs which require the involvement of social care teams. The plan also sets out aims to cut ambulance waiting times for category 2 patients - like those suffering stroke, heart attack, sepsis or major trauma - from 35 to 30 minutes. A previous target of 18 minutes has been repeatedly missed. Trusts have also been told to tackle lengthy ambulance handover delays by meeting a maximum 45-minute target for patients to enter A&E. The aim is to avoid a repeat of a crisis last winter when patients were waiting hours for beds and regularly being treated in corridors - so-called corridor care. Among the other plans revealed by NHS England are: virtual wards, where patients are monitored by hospital staff from their home, and a greater role for paramedics and urgent community response teams to treat people in the community to avoid hospital admission. 4:01 Some reforms 'lack ambition' Royal College of Emergency Medicine president Dr Adrian Boyle accepted the plan had "some good and some bad" points but also that NHS England had acknowledged "the shameful situation being experienced by patients and clinicians across the country's emergency departments". In a statement, Mr Boyle said: "Some parts lack ambition - for example accepting that 10% of people will face A&E waits of more than 12 hours, when no patient should. "Also maintaining the four-hour standard at 78% when the stated aim is that 95% of patients should move through the emergency department within this time - something which hasn't happened for a decade." Association of Ambulance Chief Executives managing director Anna Parry said: "Handover delays have the greatest detrimental impact on ambulance resources and create unnecessary delays and additional harm for thousands of patients each year. "The elimination of corridor care and the focus on reducing 12-hour waits at emergency departments is also welcomed." The Liberal Democrats broadly welcomed the plans but called on ministers to follow through on their promises. "Patients have heard these kinds of promises before only to be led up the garden path," said Lib Dem health spokesperson Helen Morgan MP. "The misery in our A&Es will only be prolonged if they continue to move at a snail's pace on social care," she added.
Time of India
29-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Tata Trusts' new film reframes periods as a sign of health, not fertility
HighlightsTata Trusts has launched a campaign to change the perception of menstruation in India, emphasizing it as a normal biological function and a marker of health rather than a source of shame and stigma. The campaign, which is supported by ethnographic research and aims to engage families, includes films that depict positive conversations about menstruation, encouraging open discussions and education around the topic. Divyang Waghela, head of water, sanitation and hygiene at Tata Trusts, stated that the initiative aims to tackle deeply entrenched stigmas and empower girls and women to view menstruation as a normal part of health, fostering a cultural shift in understanding. Tata Trusts has unveiled a new campaign to reframe how India understands menstruation. Every month, roughly 355 million people in India menstruate. Yet, the subject remains shrouded in silence and shame and is linked to impurity, drawing societal stigma and burdened by age-old beliefs that link periods to fertility and marriage. In fact, 71 per cent of Indian girls are unaware of menstruation until they experience their first period. For generations, this silence has shaped how menstruation is understood, reducing it to a marker of sexual maturity or the end of childhood, rather than recognising it as a normal biological function. This campaign flips that narrative, inviting families to recognise menstruation for what it truly is: an indicator of health. Rooted in deep ethnographic research conducted across rural regions in Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, this campaign is anchored in a combination of Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) across seven states, with a series of cause-driven campaign films and development interventions on-ground that shift the ways in which communities understand, feel and talk about menstruation. Given the universality of the insight, the campaign also has a strong digital presence. The research explored women's lived realities of restrictions in matters of personal hygiene and healthy menstrual practices. It also uncovered social norms surrounding menstruation, with mothers avoiding the conversation, fearing that their daughters will be seen as 'ready for marriage' – a worry also echoed by Anganwadi Workers. Men shared limited menstrual awareness, often seeing it through the lens of household disruptions – like how it would affect women's cooking. However, they did show support when prompted, including getting their wives pads and taking them to the doctor when needed. Shaped by a talented team of behavioural researchers and grassroots and creative partners, this campaign seeks to empower girls to remain children even after their first period, and women to feel confident and well-informed, with nothing left to fear or hide about this natural monthly process. Divyang Waghela, head – water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), Tata Trusts, commented, 'Built on the Trusts' rich work in menstrual health and hygiene, and considering how deeply entrenched stigmas remain, we strive to tackle barriers around infrastructure, belief systems, and environments perpetuating them. Through this, girls can view periods as a normal part of health, not something to be hidden away.' These insights laid the foundation for Tata Trusts' campaign that presents a disruptive, perspective-shifting goal: for periods to be seen as a marker of health and not just sexual maturity. At the heart of the campaign, running across the series of films as a common thread, is a catchy jingle, 'Maheena Aa gaya' (In this case, Maheena – month – refers to Periods, translating to, 'I've got my periods'). It acts as a cultural bridge, bringing to life everyday scenarios where menstrual symptoms, whether cramps, fatigue, or mood changes, are acknowledged openly by both men and women only as a lakshan (symbol) of health and nothing more. By making these conversations feel comfortable, respectful, and even light-hearted, the campaign aims to de-stigmatize menstruation and create space for empathetic dialogue within families. Deepshikha Surendran, head of brand and marketing communications, Tata Trusts, said, "'Maheena aa gaya' is more than just flipping a calendar page – it's a symbolic call to action, urging families to rethink what a period means, which we hope will nudge a generational, cultural shift in how menstruation is supported.' The hero film is supported by films specific to key segments of audiences that shape everyday beliefs around menstruation. In one, a mother lovingly guides her daughter through her first period, explaining that it's simply biology, not a sign of readiness for marriage and that there is nothing to fear or be ashamed of. Another depicts a husband ensuring his wife's needs during menstruation are met without waiting for her to ask because periods are not just her problem. In another film, a mother-in-law gently supports her daughter-in-law, encouraging her to rest and eat iron-rich food while reminding her, "Yeh siraf sehat ka ek lakshan hai' (this is only about health). These stories, told with warmth and emotional honesty, in real settings, replace fear with familiarity and shame with science. To ensure that the message percolates into conversations at a societal level, another film targeting Asha didis and other health workers, who are the bridge between the community and healthcare system, has been developed. "We're not asking people to radically shift their thinking – simply, to understand that a period is just a 'lakshan' — a symptom, like hair loss. Capturing this, we created a simple, light film that we shot in people's aangans and homes, with a powerful, memorable song with a hook rooted in Indian pop culture, offering an important reminder: 'Maheene ko sirf sehat se jodo' (link that time of the month – menstruation – to only health),' added Keigan Pinto, the creative director. Watch the video here:
