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COVID-19 Medical Updates Medicine & Health

IBM provides health facilities to 3 states to fight potential third wave

IBM
IBM provides health facilities to 3 states to fight potential third wave

Technology firm IBM India has provided healthcare facilities like pediatric ICU beds and oxygen concentrators to Karnataka, Haryana and Uttarakhand which would help them tackle a potential third wave of COVID-19, according to senior company official.

The healthcare facilities have been provided as part of IBM India’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative in partnership with the Nasscom Foundation.

Speaking to PTI, IBM India and South Asia Head-CSR Manoj Balachandran said, “While a lot of relief like oxygen cylinders was coming in to address the immediate short term need, we decided to work on mid to long term requirements with the state governments.”

In Karnataka, pediatric ICU beds were provided thinking that children could be a potential risk if there is a third wave as they are not vaccinated, he said.

“All that we are doing now is obviously trying to be prepared for the third wave, hoping against hope that the third wave is not going to be as severe as the earlier one,” he said.

Right now, the focus has been on these three states. But things might change if a third wave hits, as the company will then re-evaluate and look at other states for extending relief, he added.

According to IBM, 45 pediatric ICU beds have been provided to CV Raman General Hospital and Sevashram Hospital in Bengaluru.

The Nasscom Foundation has partnered with Rashtrotthana Parishad to get this high-end equipment installed.

In Uttarakhand, the company has deployed 122 oxygen concentrators and 125 flow meters in Cantonment General Hospital in Dehradun.

In Haryana, it has deployed an oxygen generation plant of 200 LPM (litre per minute) capacity at Faridabad District Hospital and Community Health Centre.

Besides, the company has provided nine ICU beds, four regular hospital beds, five high-flow nasal canula and 191 flow meters to the Faridabad District Hospital and Community Health Centre, he added.

“These current efforts should help in the third wave also,” Balachandran said, adding that reasonable capacity has been created in some of these hospitals to handle the likely third wave.

However, the company is keeping its eyes and ears open to meet the possible demand that may come from hospitals if a third wave hits, he added.

Nasscom Foundation CEO Nidhi Bhasin said, “The whole tech industry responded very fast. It was very overwhelming the way everybody responded, including IBM, during the second wave of the pandemic.”

The focus was on building infrastructure and creating awareness about vaccination. Companies like IBM should come forward and support these kinds of initiatives, she added.

Apart from this initiative being implemented along with Nasscom Foundation, Balachandran said IBM India is engaged in implementing CSR works in areas like education.

source: https://www.business-standard.com/

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COVID-19 Medical Updates

India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre calls for covid management solutions

India-sweden
India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre calls for covid management solutions

India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre, a collaboration between the Swedish Trade Commissioner’s Office and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi and Jodhpur, on Monday virtually launched the second edition of the healthcare innovation challenge, calling for applications.

The innovation challenge is an opportunity for startups to collaborate with partners on Innovation Centre platform to help solve some of the problems plaguing India’s healthcare delivery landscape. This year’s healthcare innovation challenge focuses on solutions within covid management and solutions for awareness and treatment of cardiovascular, renal, neuro, cancer and lung diseases.

“Frugal innovation to develop cost-effective and efficient ways of healthcare delivery is the key need for Indian healthcare market. Innovators developing these solutions could leverage this platform and avail mentorship and guidance from our institute as well as the partners of the center to develop solutions that would benefit our country,” said Dr Randeep Guleria, director, AIIMS Delhi.

The last date for submitting applications 10 October 2021. All applications will undergo a rigorous evaluation process by a panel of experts such as AIIMS Delhi, AIIMS Jodhpur, ICMR, AstraZeneca, NASSCOM, CCamp, AIM, Invest India and various funding entities.

“Healthcare systems in India are undergoing a rapid transformation post the pandemic. Early screening and awareness tools, wearable tracking devices, remote monitoring solutions and digital tools are critical in creating a more strong and sustainable healthcare system in India. Innovators in these areas can avail the incubation facility, expert mentorship and validate the solutions at our campus through India-Sweden Healthcare innovation centre to further enhance their products and scale-up of solutions,” Dr Sanjeev Misra, Director, AIIMS Jodhpur said.

Shortlisted startups will collaborate with India-Sweden Healthcare Innovation Centre to enable faster scale up, cross-country mentorship, access to state-of-the-art incubation centre located within AIIMS Jodhpur and NASSCOM Bangalore campus, lab facilities, guidance on funding, and the ability to ideate with like-minded innovators from across India and beyond.

The first edition of the healthcare innovation challenge had seen an overwhelming response of 450+ applications from innovators and startups last year. Post a rigorous evaluation process by a panel of doctors, venture capitalists and industry leaders, 14 compelling solutions submitted by innovators were selected.

The Innovation Centre is built under strategic guidance from the Union health ministry, the Indian Council of Medical Research, Sweden’s health ministry and the embassy of Sweden in India. It also has a strong network of ecosystem partners – Atal Innovation Mission, Invest India, Startup India, CCamp, Bangalore Bio-innovation Centre, Vision Zero Cancer, and knowledge partners – AstraZeneca and NASSCOM.

source: https://www.livemint.com/

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Medical Updates Medicine & Health

75th Independence Day: 5 ways to free your mind from stress

stress
75th Independence Day: 5 ways to free your mind from stress

The nation will be celebrating its 75th Independence Day tomorrow, August 15, 2021. On this day, we got freedom from British rule in India and it is a day of immense significance for us. Freedom is the power or right to do what you want without anyone stopping you, as per Oxford dictionary. When this power is snatched from us due to some reason, we feel trapped or stressed. Difficult situations in life that seem out of control may make us feel that way.

Coronavirus pandemic has made stress a constant in our lives. Freeing your mind from stress is a choice that one must make every day irrespective of the situation. If there is any resolution you should take on 75th Independence Day, it must be to say no to stress or free your mind from it.

1. Prioritise right

Over the time, if stress keeps getting accumulated, it plays havoc with our health. It’s better to nip it in the bud. Do things that are urgent and leave those that are not so important and burdening you unnecessarily. Prioritising right can take away a lot of stress that is the need of the hour.

“A lot of time we neglect our stress till the time it starts affecting us. We should address it when it is at a preventive stage. The first strategy to deal with it is to avoid stress that is not important for you,” says Dr. Arushi Malik, Counselling Psychologist, Kaleidoscope – a unit of Dr. Bakshi’s Healthcare.

2. Set your boundaries

Sometimes we think avoiding or saying no is a bad thing. But to take care and manage your stress, it is important to say no when it gets too much. “Human mind has this capability that it adapts to the situation around. One must try to overcome the thing that is stressing you out in a healthy manner. Acknowledge stress in its early stages and try to work around it,” advises Dr. Malik.

She also adds that in pandemic times, there are some things that are under our control and those that are not. “It’s important to accept the way certain things are and adapt to them accordingly,” she adds.

3. Seek help

Most importantly, do not shy away in connecting with others and seeking help. If the stress is getting unmanageable and seeping into other domains of life and impacting relationships with others, it is okay to talk about it. One must not isolate self and instead of virtual world, connect with the real world, according to Dr. Malik.

4. Do activities to soothe your mind

A lot of times it happens that stress makes you very fidgety and you are not able to focus on the task at hand.

It happens because our brain imagines the worst-case scenario. We get very jumpy and don’t focus on the moment.

Doing activities that get your composure back can be very helpful. “Doing zentangle is a fun way to draw patterns and the process is quite soothing to mind. Mandala books or colouring books for adults are also becoming popular and are very effective in soothing your mind and managing your stress,” says Dr. Malik.

These activities allow us to focus on the present moment and realise that things are not that stressful and can be managed.

5. Eating healthy and doing physical activities

Good nutrition and intake of balanced diet is important for mental health. Green leafy vegetables, fresh and seasonal fruits, nuts & legumes are rich in vitamins, anti-oxidants and other essential nutrients that help in repairing body cells and protect our brain. Brisk walking or any sort of physical activity help in alleviating symptoms of anxiety, depression, social withdrawal etc.

So this Independence Day, let’s take a resolve to kick out stress from our life and breathe.

source: https://www.hindustantimes.com/

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COVID-19 Medical Updates Medicine & Health

In 6 months since launch of drive: Vaccine coverage crosses 50 cr doses

vaccination
In 6 months since launch of drive: Vaccine coverage crosses 50 cr doses

Just over six months after it launched the Covid-19 vaccination drive, India on Friday completed administering a cumulative 50 crore doses.

According to the Union Health Ministry, cumulative vaccination coverage of the country touched 50.03 crore doses, after 43.29 lakh doses were administered on Friday.

“India’s fight against Covid-19 receives a strong impetus. Vaccination numbers cross the 50 crore mark. We hope to build on these numbers and ensure our citizens are vaccinated under #SabkoVaccineMuftVaccine movement,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.

On January 16, India launched the vaccination drive prioritising healthcare and frontline workers. As of Friday, 1.03 crore healthcare workers had received their first dose, and 79.51 lakh had received both doses. Also, 1.8 crore frontline workers had received their first dose, and 1.16 crore their second dose.

On March 1, the Centre opened up vaccination for the most vulnerable groups: people above the age of 60 years, and those above 45 years with associated comorbidities. Amid the second wave, on April 1, India rolled out a new phase, making every person above the age of 45 years eligible for a shot.

According to official data, in the 60-plus age group, 7.8 crore have got the first dose and 3.8 crore the second dose. In the 45-plus age group, 11.07 crore have got the first dose and 4.19 crore the second dose.

On May 1, India expanded its vaccination coverage to include everyone aged 18 years and above; but the 18-44 age group could get vaccinated from only 50 per cent of the doses available in the open market and procured by state governments and private hospitals. On June 21, India returned to centralised procurement of vaccines, after several states faced difficulties in procuring and managing funding of vaccines.

According to the official data, 17.23 crore beneficiaries in the 18-44 years group have received their first dose, and 1.12 crore have got their second dose. Significantly, for the 18-44 years age group, which constitutes the largest cohort, five states have administered more than 1 crore doses: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

The following states have vaccinated more than 10 lakh beneficiaries of the 18-44 years group with the first dose: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Jharkhand, Kerala, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.

On Friday, the Health Ministry said that 43,29,673 vaccine doses were given till 7 pm. “As many as 32,10,613 beneficiaries were vaccinated for 1st dose and 11,19,060 beneficiaries received 2nd dose of vaccine as per the provisional report till 7 pm. Final reports would be completed for the day by late tonight,” the ministry said.

source: https://indianexpress.com/

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Medical Updates Medicine & Health

Delhi approves policy for providing incentives to pvt sector to set up oxygen plants

oxygen plant
Delhi approves policy for providing incentives to pvt sector to set up oxygen plants

Delhi battled an acute shortage of oxygen in April and May as hospitals in the capital sent out SOS calls to authorities to replenish their dwindling stocks. Several private healthcare facilities even requested the government to move out their patients.

Stepping up preparation for a possible third wave, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday approved a policy for providing incentives to the private sector to set up oxygen production plants and storage facilities to help improve the availability of the life-saving gas in the capital.

“Approved Medical Oxy Prodn Promotion Policy. It provides several incentives to pvt sector to set up oxy prodn plants, invest in Oxy tankers n set up oxy storage facilities. This will help improving oxy availability in Del which became a huge bottleneck in handling last Covid wave (sic),” Kejriwal tweeted.

Delhi battled an acute shortage of oxygen in April and May as hospitals in the capital sent out SOS calls to authorities to replenish their dwindling stocks. Several private healthcare facilities even requested the government to move out their patients.

On April 23, around 21 critically ill COVID-19 patients had died at Jaipur Golden Hospital in northwest Delhi due to an oxygen shortage.

Batra Hospital in Tughlakabad Institutional Area lost eight lives due to an oxygen shortage on May 1.

To prevent a repeat of the oxygen crisis, the city government is in the process of installing oxygen generation plants and increasing hospital beds to accommodate 37,000 cases a day in case of a third wave.

According to officials, around 10 Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen generation plants with a total capacity of 148.11 metric tonnes are being installed at various government and private hospitals in the city.

While 66 plants are being installed in Delhi government hospitals, 10 are being set up in central government hospitals and 84 in private healthcare facilities.

The city government is also creating LMO storage facilities and has floated a tender to procure 15 cryogenic tankers having a total carrying capacity of 225 tonnes.

source: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/

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Medicine & Health

This is India’s first city to achieve 100% Covid-19 vaccination

covid vaccination
This is India's first city to achieve 100% Covid-19 vaccination

BMC is running 55 vaccination centres, which includes 30 primary health and community centres, 15 mobilised centres and more than ten drive-in vaccination centres across Bhubaneswar.

Scoring a new milestone, Bhubaneswar has become the first city to achieve 100 per cent COVID-19 vaccination, informed Anshuman Rath, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Zonal Deputy Commissioner of South-East, Bhubaneswar.

BMC had launched a massive vaccination drive against Covid-19.

Speaking to ANI, Anshuman Rath said, “We had set a target to complete vaccination in a specific timeline. BMC has a record of around nine lakh people who are above 18 years of age in the city. Which includes around 31 thousand healthcare workers, 33 thousand front-line workers. 5 lakh 17 thousand people are in the age group of 18 to 44 years. 3 lakh 25 thousand people are above 45 years of age. We had set a benchmark for these categories to complete their vaccination in the specific timeline by July 31.”

Rath further added, “As per the report, we have already vaccinated 18 lakh 16 thousand people in the city. Only a few people were not being able to take first does due to various reasons. There is a migrating population, who is working in their office in Bhubaneswar and getting the first jab of Covaxin.”

Talking about the vaccination of pregnant women, Rath said, “Pregnant women are getting their first dose at vaccination centres. BMC is running 55 vaccination centres, which includes 30 primary health and community centres, 15 mobilised centres and more than ten drive-in vaccination centres across Bhubaneswar. I thank the people of Bhubaneswar for supporting BMC in achieving the target for the Covid-19 vaccination. All the micro-planning was given by the BMC due to which Bhubaneswar has become the city which has covered 100 per cent Covid-19 vaccination.”

source: https://www.livemint.com/
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COVID-19 Medicine & Health

Delta variant continues to be dominant lineage in new COVID-19 cases across India: INSACOG

DeltaVariant
Delta variant continues to be dominant lineage in new COVID-19 cases across India: INSACOG

The Delta variant of SARS-CoV2 continues to be the dominant lineage for new cases across the country, while the other Variants of Concern (VoC) are at a lower rate and declining, Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG), a consortium of government panels involved in the genome-sequencing of the coronavirus, has said.

There is currently no evidence of any new Delta sub-lineage that is of greater concern than Delta, it has said.

“Delta continues to be the dominant lineage for new cases across all parts of India in recent samples and remains the most rapidly rising lineage globally that is responsible for multiple outbreaks, including across Southeast Asia, which shows the fastest growth in new cases globally,” the INSACOG said.

Regions with high vaccination and strong public health measures, such as Singapore, continue to do well, it noted.

The Delta variant was behind the deadly second wave of the coronavirus in India that killed thousands and infected lakhs during March to May.

The INSACOG said a study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has confirmed that most of the clinical cases in vaccine breakthrough were infected with the Delta variant but only 9.8% cases required hospitalisation, while fatality was found to be restricted to 0.4%.

It added that the data for higher infectivity of Delta continues to grow with the secondary attack rate in household contacts being almost double for Delta, when compared to Alpha (Public Health England, July 9 update). The other VoC continue to be very low in India and are declining relative to Delta globally.

“Public health measures to reduce transmission and vaccination remain critical,” the INSACOG stressed.

No cases of the Lambda variant have so far been reported in the country, it added.

In data from the U.K., Lambda is still seen primarily in travellers or their contacts and is not growing relative to Delta.

A growing spectrum of mutations is seen in the Delta background in the U.K., the U.S. and India.

The most frequent spike protein mutations, other than K417N (AY.1/AY.2), seen in the U.K. are G446V and P251L. In India, A222V and K77T have been reported as possible markers of sub-lineages.

Previous research into the A222V mutation for either transmissibility or immune escape was negative. In the case of the K77T mutation, it has previously been reported in a cluster of Delta that spread to Asiatic lions in a zoo, and seen in sequences from Tamil Nadu, but has no known impact on transmission or immune escape in humans, the INSACOG said.

The INSACOG jointly initiated by the Union Ministry of Health and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the ICMR, is a consortium of 28 national laboratories to monitor the genomic variations in SARS-CoV-2.

source:https://www.thehindu.com/

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COVID-19 Medical Updates Medicine & Health

“Free Vaccine” Campaign Covered 30-40 Crore In 24 Days: Health Minister

vaccination
"Free Vaccine" Campaign Covered 30-40 Crore In 24 Days: Health Minister

India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 40.64 crores, according to health ministry data updated on Monday morning.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday said it took 85 days to inoculate 10 crore, people, against COVID-19, while due to the “vaccine for all, free vaccine” campaign, it took only 24 days to reach 30-40 crore vaccination coverage.

The new phase of universalization of COVID-19 vaccination started on June 21.

The inoculation drive has been ramped up through availability of more vaccines, advance vaccine availability to states and union territories (UTs) for better planning by them and streamlining the supply chain, according to the Union health ministry.

In the new phase, the Centre procures and supplies at no cost 75 per cent of the vaccines being produced in the country to states and UTs.

India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 40.64 crore, according to health ministry data updated in Monday morning.

“The world’s largest and fastest vaccination campaign under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is continuously creating new dimensions,” Mr Mandaviya said in a tweet in Hindi.

“In the initial days, it took 85 days to vaccinate 10 crore, while due to the ”vaccine for all, free vaccine” campaign, it took India only 24 days to touch the figure of 30 crore to 40 crore,” he tweeted.

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The ministry said 40,64,81,493 vaccine doses have been administered through 50,69,232 sessions, according to the provisional report till 7 am on Monday.

It said that 13,63,123 vaccine doses were administered in a span of 24 hours.

Out of the people infected since the beginning of the pandemic, 3,03,08,456 people have already recovered from COVID-19 and 38,660 patients have recovered in a span of 24 hours.

This constitutes an overall recovery rate of 97.32 per cent, which is showing a sustained increasing trend.

 

source: https://www.ndtv.com/

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Medicine & Health

Cabinet approves continuation of centrally sponsored National AYUSH Mission

ayush
Cabinet approves continuation of centrally sponsored National AYUSH Mission

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the continuation of National AYUSH Mission (NAM) as a centrally sponsored scheme effective 1 April to 31 March 2026 with an expenditure of ₹4,607.3 crore.

The Centre’s share in the scheme would be ₹3,000 crore, while ₹1,607.3 crore will be state share, the government said. The mission was launched on 15 September 2014 and is being implemented by ministry of AYUSH with the objectives of providing cost-effective AYUSH services, with universal access through upgrading AYUSH hospitals and dispensaries, co-location of AYUSH facilities at primary health centres, community health centres, and district hospitals, strengthening institutional capacity at the state level through upgrading AYUSH educational institutions, setting up of new up to 50 bedded integrated AYUSH hospital, AYUSH public health programmes and operationalization of 12,500 AYUSH health and wellness centres to provide services of a holistic wellness model based on AYUSH principles and practices so as to empower masses for “self-care” to reduce the disease burden, and out-of-pocket expenditure.

The mission, the government said, is addressing the gaps in health services by supporting the efforts of governments in states and Union territories for providing AYUSH health services or education in the country, particularly in vulnerable and far-flung areas. Under NAM, special focus is given for specific needs of such areas and for the allocation of higher resources in their annual plans.

The government said India possesses an unmatched heritage represented by its traditional systems of medicine such as ayurveda, sidhha, sowa rigpa, Unani and homeopathy (ASU&H) which are a treasure trove of knowledge for preventive, promotive and curative healthcare.

The positive features of the Indian systems of medicine, namely their diversity and flexibility; accessibility; affordability; broad acceptance by a large section of the general public; comparatively lesser cost and growing economic value, have great potential to make them providers of healthcare that the large sections of our people need, it said.

The government said the expected outcomes of the mission will be better access to AYUSH healthcare services through increased healthcare facilities offering AYUSH services and better availability of medicines and trained manpower. The government said that with the scheme there will be improvement in AYUSH education through a well-equipped enhanced number of AYUSH educational institutions. It will further increase to focus on reducing communicable/non-communicable diseases through targeted public health programmes using AYUSH systems of healthcare.

source: https://www.livemint.com/
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Medical Updates

Maharashtra CM launches healthcare skill scheme

Maharashtra
Maharashtra CM launches healthcare skill scheme

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray launched the CM’s Maha Arogya Skills Development Programme, under which 20,000 youth will be trained in healthcare, nursing, and paramedical fields

 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday launched the CM’s Maha Arogya Skills Development Programme, under which 20,000 youth will be trained in healthcare, nursing, and paramedical fields.

“In the next three months, 20,000 trained manpower will be provided from 36 different courses in the field of healthcare, nursing, and paramedical, which are required in Corona situation,” reads the official release.

Thackeray said the scheme will provide skilled manpower to the health sector during COVID times. “This will be an important step towards the goal of a healthy, wholesome Maharashtra,” he added.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Minister for Skill Development, Employment and Entrepreneurship Nawab Malik, Industries Minister Subhash Desai, Public Health Minister Rajesh Tope, Medical Education Minister Amit Deshmukh, Chief Minister were present on the occasion.