Latest news with #ZubedaHamid
The Hindu
20 hours ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Watch: Rare blood types, twice-a-year HIV prevention, and rising maternal health risks
In this edition of The Health Wrap by The Hindu, hosts Zubeda Hamid and Dr. N. Ramkrishnan unpack the week's biggest health developments—from the discovery of a new blood group named 'Gwada negative', to a twice-a-year HIV prevention shot approved by the U.S. FDA. The episode also covers India's maternal and newborn health challenges, including heat-linked pregnancy risks and the generational impact of domestic violence. Plus, explore advances in cancer, brain and spine care, cataract awareness, and new genomic tools for outbreak detection. Tune in for the expert take and a roundup of key explainers that you shouldn't miss. Coordinator: Athira Elssa Johnson Presentation: Ramya Kannan and Zubeda Hamid Editing: Shivaraj S Video: Shivaraj S and Thamodharan B
The Hindu
20-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Is India's extreme heat impacting pregnancies?
With the blistering temperatures that most of India is suffering under, it should come as no surprise that May 2025 was the second-warmest month of May since records began. But what is of greater concern now, is how this heat is going to affect our future generations -- a new study has found that India recorded an average of six additional days of dangerously high temperatures for pregnant women every year over the last five years. What is this extreme heat doing the bodies of mothers to be? How does heat affect pregnancy outcomes? What will it mean for the near future, as India continues to experience heat waves? Guest: Prof Jane Hirst Chair in Global Women's Health, The George Institute for Global Health, Imperial College London and Visiting Professor in Global Women's Health, University of Oxford Host: Zubeda Hamid Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Listen to more In Focus podcasts:
The Hindu
13-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
What are the risks of the government's proposed ‘mixopathy' move?
The Central government recently proposed starting an integrated course – MBBS and Ayurveda medicine, at the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) in Puducherry. This proposed move has evoked a strong response from the Indian Medical Association who has said this unscientific mixing of various systems of medicine will benefit neither doctors, nor patients. This is not the first move to mix traditional and modern systems of medicine in India – other such measures for instance, have included proposals to allow traditional medical practitioners to prescribe modern medicine after a short course. What are the risks of mixing alternative systems of medicine with the MBBS course? Is there a benefit to integrated systems and if so, how should these be brought in? Has any other country managed to successfully combine alternative systems with modern, evidence based medicine? Guest: Rajeev Jayadevan is the Chairman, Research Cell, Kerala State IMA, Past President, IMA Cochin Host: Zubeda Hamid Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian. Listen to more In Focus podcasts:
The Hindu
06-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
What do you need to know about the Covid-19 spike in India?
What do you need to know about the Covid-19 spike in India? Yet again, we are talking about a virus we would much rather forget – Covid-19 is in the news with over 4,300 cases and over deaths as of June 4. New sub-variants, descendent from the Omicron lineage first reported at the end of 2021, are believed to be driving the spike in cases. So far however, a majority of the cases have been mild, with very few requiring hospitalisation, according to the government. Is Covid-19 here to stay? Do we have any reason to be concerned about the new variants? Do we need vaccines or booster shots again? And, what as individuals, can we do to stay safe? Guest: V. Ramasubramanian, consultant infectious diseases specialist, Apollo Hospital, Chennai and medical director, Capstone Multispecialty Clinic, Chennai Host: Zubeda Hamid Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian. Listen to more In Focus podcasts:
The Hindu
28-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Are advertising and easy access driving rising sugar consumption among Indian children?
The Central Board of Secondary Education, or CBSE, recently mandated the establishment of sugar boards at all its schools. These boards will tell children how much sugar there is in common snacks that they eat versus what the recommended sugar intake is. The move also aims to make school canteens healthier so that the food children have access to on a daily basis is healthy and low in sugar. Why was this move necessary? Reports estimate that by 2030, one of every ten obese children the world over will be from India. India is staring at an obesity crisis among all segments of its population, but public health experts are increasingly worried about the youngest of them – children and adolescents. While diets high in ultra-processed food and lack of physical activity are said to be the main culprits, there is not enough talk about why our diet patterns are changing – relentless advertising and the cheap and easy availability of unhealthy food. Do our advertising laws need to change to ensure such foods are not marketed to children? Do our food labelling laws need to be modified? Will less access help improve diet patterns? Guest: Dr Arun Gupta, paediatrician and convenor of Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest (NAPi) Host: Zubeda Hamid Edited by Jude Francis Weston For more episodes of In Focus:
