ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is here to stay. Nonpharmacological interventions such as hand hygiene, social distancing, and respiratory hygiene have remained the mainstay to curb the spread of the virus, and these are sustainable. To understand the information, education, and communication (IEC) efforts undertaken during previous pandemics and successful behavior change strategies that may be applicable to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted a narrative review of articles using PubMed search on September 11, 2022. The results highlighted that reinforced IEC is the need of the hour in efforts against COVID-19 pandemic. The communication strategy during a pandemic should be of three stages aligned to the objectives of building a basic understanding and knowledge in the target population: building an awareness of the threat; personal actions to minimize the impact; and reinforcing the need for appropriate actions to minimize disease transmission, in that order. An innovative strategy of displaying IEC on the daily essential products can result in a sustainable solution that might result in a “felt need” in the community to follow COVID-19 appropriate behavior. A broad base of stakeholders' engagement with civil bodies, nongovernmental organizations, private sectors with well-defined responsibilities and accountability would offer an enabling environment for these efforts in ultimately curbing the COVID-19 pandemic.
ABSTRACT
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a distinct hepatic condition and one of the most common causes of Chronic Liver Disease globally. In February, 2021, the Government of India had launched and integrated interventions to prevent and control NAFLD in the ongoing National Programme for Prevention & Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS). This review was conducted to identify challenges and proposes solutions for effective program implementation. The authors identified that since NPCDCS has been implemented as District-based program and NAFLD being new component, the lack of familiarity of various sub-group of staff could be a major challenge in roll-out. The sensitization of Health Workers, Medical Officer in Primary Healthcare System, the specialist doctors at all levels of care as well as private practitioners, on various aspects of NAFLD (including epidemiology, clinical features, treatment approach and other aspects) should be conducted. The Information Education Communication (IEC) material should be developed and campaigns for awareness generation amongst general public in prevention and management of the disease should be conducted.Ongoing activities to set up Health and Wellness Centres under Ayushman Bharat Program, is a good opportunity to integrate of NAFLD in primary care level. This will help India to accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage
ABSTRACT
Various databases offer access to thousands of academic journals. A miscellaneous picture with respect to quality, scientific influence and prestige is presented by umpteen numbers of journals present. Authors wishing to publish their research aim to publish in journals with the highest ratings and are ultimately in no man’s land.
ABSTRACT
There has been an increase in reports of outbreak of encephalopathy in children presenting with a syndrome of sudden onset of high fever and altered sensorium in and around the peak of Indian summer months in geographical regions that flourish in Litchi plantation. In the light of the increased mortality and morbidity due to the mystery disease and the speculations surrounding litchi consumptions, a study was conducted in the litchi production hub of Muzaffarpur district Bihar in India by the NCDC in technical collaboration with US CDC. The variables that were significantly associated were litchi consumption (OR: 9.6 [3.8-24.1]), visiting a fruit orchard (OR: 6 [2.7-13.4]), and absence of an evening meal (OR: 2.2 [1.2-4.3]) in the 24-h preceding illness onset. The recommendations that have been advocated are to avoid eating unripe litchi or its seed and always preferring fresh and ripe ones, children should not to go to sleep without a proper dinner meal during the litchi season and cases of altered sensorium should be always be checked for blood glucose levels and prompt correction should be done if levels suggest hypoglycemia in hospitals.
ABSTRACT
Universal Health coverage (UHC) is required for fulfilment of Health for All. Currently World Health Organization has proposed indicators for tracing coverage of UHC. This study aimed to find the current status of the UHC in India and Indian States. Material and Methods: Data were collected from the national data portals, national surveys and annual reports of ministry. In case of non-availability, numerator and denominator were used from different sources. Data were entered in to Microsoft excel and analysed using Stata-12. Results: Coverage indicators for Non Communicable diseases and cataract surgery were not available in any national survey or national report of ministry. Coverage of none of the health system indicators were found to be 100%. Few indicators like Skilled attendance at birth, TB cure rate, Preventive chemotherapy against filariasis, access to improved water source had a coverage of 80%. Across the states and union territories the coverage was variable but no significant difference was observed between the EAG and Non EAG states. Very few states have achieved the minimum coverage of 80% in various coverage indicators. Conclusion: There is non-availability of some data and some data were collected in duplication. Because of the lack of data, it is not yet possible to compare the UHC service coverage index across key dimensions of inequality. Until these data gaps are overcome, inequalities in service coverage cannot be assessed.