New Delhi, July 26 (IANS) The Ayushman Bharat mission filled critical healthcare gaps during Covid, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel told the Parliament on Friday.

Patel told the Lok Sabha, in a written reply, that the Centre undertook several initiatives during the Covid-19 pandemic “to ensure effective management and availability of sufficient health care infrastructure to meet the increased demand during the pandemic”.

She also enlisted key schemes launched and implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare during the deadly pandemic.

“Pradhan Mantri- Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) was launched on October 25, 2021, with an outlay of Rs 64,180 crore to be implemented over five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26, to fill critical gaps in health infrastructure, surveillance and health research – spanning both the urban and rural areas,” she said.

It was also aimed at strengthening “the public health infrastructure and to effectively manage and respond towards any future pandemics and outbreaks”, she added.

The scheme focussed on developing capacities of health systems and institutions across the continuum of care at all levels — primary, secondary and tertiary — and on preparing health systems to respond effectively to current and future pandemics/disasters. PM-ABHIM was a centrally sponsored scheme (CSS), and it also provided support to states/UTs for the “construction of Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) in rural and urban areas, establishment/strengthening of block public health units, integrated district public health labs in all districts and critical care hospital blocks”.

It also extended support on “enhancing capacities for surveillance and health emergency response, research, pandemic preparedness and One Health approach to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks in animals and humans”, the Minister said.

Another scheme was the India Covid-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness Package (ECRP-I). Patel noted it was approved “by the Cabinet on April 22, 2020, for Rs 15,000 crore to prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by Covid-19. Further, an amount of Rs. 8473.73 crore has also been released to states & UTs”.

The central sector scheme “aimed at building a resilient health system to support preparedness and prevention functions for the management of the Covid-19 pandemic and any such future outbreaks in India”.

The Centre in July 2021 extended the scheme, ECRP Phase-II, to provide support to Central hospitals, agencies and states/UTs, Patel noted, adding that it “was approved with the financial outlay of Rs 23,123 crore”.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 26 (IANS) Liver diseases are significantly rising among young adults aged 23-35, said health experts on Friday ahead of World Hepatitis Day.

World Hepatitis Day is observed every year on July 28 to raise global awareness of hepatitis — an inflammation of the liver — and related diseases.

According to the experts, conditions such as alcohol-related liver disease, fatty liver, hepatitis, and cirrhosis are increasingly affecting this age group, leading to higher mortality and morbidity rates.

Early screening and management are crucial to improving outcomes for these individuals.

“Severe liver conditions such as acute viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis, fatty liver, and NASH (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) are on the rise among young adults. This surge is linked to unhealthy lifestyle practices and excessive alcohol use, now seen as a social norm. The prevalence is nearly twice as high among men compared to women,” said Dr. Uday Sanglodkar, Senior Consultant Hepatologist at Gleneagles Hospitals Parel.

He also highlighted common symptoms such as jaundice, weight loss, nausea, weakness, and ascites, noting an increase in young patients in recent years.

“The rise in liver disease among young adults is also due to poor dietary choices, drug abuse, and unprotected sexual activity,” said Dr. Prakash Kurane, General and HPB Surgeon at Apollo Spectra Mumbai.

He urged awareness and early intervention to prevent severe complications, including the necessity of liver transplants.

The liver plays a vital role in detoxification, nutrient processing, hormone regulation, immune system function, and storing essential nutrients.

However, there has been a significant rise in liver-related issues due to factors like alcohol consumption, smoking, inadequate water intake, excessive sodium consumption, viral infections, and prolonged use of certain medications.

Additionally, health conditions like Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol levels increase the risk of liver problems.

Cirrhosis and NASH can cause severe liver damage, leading to permanent scarring and fat accumulation.

Hepatitis, caused by various factors including viruses and toxins, remains a significant concern.

“Vaccines against Hepatitis A and B are essential for high-risk individuals,” Dr. Sanglodkar said.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 26 (IANS) Focus on the process of maintaining a healthy lifestyle is more important than the end goal, said a top neurologist on Friday, highlighting measures to remain motivated while on a healthy lifestyle journey.

Embarking on a journey towards a healthier lifestyle can be challenging, but staying motivated is the key to long-term success.

Taking to a post on the social media platform X, Dr Sudhir Kumar from Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad offered practical advice to maintain motivation while also achieving lasting health improvements.

“Focusing on the process rather than fixating solely on the end goal is crucial,” Dr Kumar said.

Emphasising the importance of enjoying daily activities that contribute to health, such as walking or running, he said “Choose activities you enjoy, as this increases the likelihood of regular participation”.

Dr Kumar also highlighted the benefits of starting the day early with outdoor activities.

“Embracing mornings can boost your mood and energy levels. The fresh air, sunrise, and sounds of nature invigorate the senses and fill you with positive energy,” he explained.

Strength training is another essential component of a healthy lifestyle, he said.

“Incorporating strength training can improve overall well-being. This can be done at home if gym access is limited, but it’s good to seek guidance from a fitness trainer to ensure proper technique and progression,” said the neurologist.

Regarding diet, he advised to make simple and sustainable changes. “Gradually shift to a diet you can maintain long-term. This makes it easier to stick to healthy eating habits,” he said.

Dr Kumar also stressed the importance of cutting down on sugar, including alternatives like honey and jaggery.

“Reducing sugar intake can diminish cravings over time. It may take a month to adjust, but the long-term benefits are worth it,” he said.

He also recommended adjusting plate proportions from being carb-heavy to protein-rich. “This change can be introduced gradually to avoid significant resistance from family members,” Dr Kumar said.

In addition, he suggested tracking progress by monitoring metrics such as weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, and blood test results. “Seeing improvements can be a powerful motivator,” he said, also urging people to share the stories and inspire others which “can further boost your motivation.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 26 (IANS) The Union government established lactation centres to ensure the availability of safe, pasteurised donor human milk for feeding sick, preterm, and low birth weight babies, said Anupriya Patel, Minister of State (MoS) in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in a written reply in Lok Sabha on Friday.

“The government has established Comprehensive Lactation Management Centres (CLMC) to ensure availability of safe, pasteurised donor human milk and lactation management unit (LMU) for facilitating the expression of mother’s milk, for feeding of sick, preterm and low birth weight babies admitted in intensive care units such as neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and special newborn care unit (SNCU),” Patel said.

She said that in FY 2023-24, there were about 52 CLMCs and 50 LMUs operational across the country.

Breast milk is essential for newborns as it provides all the necessary nutrients for their growth and development. In addition, it also has a protective effect against the risk of illnesses such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, and other chronic conditions such as asthma, allergies, childhood obesity, diabetes, and heart diseases in adult life.

Breast milk acts as life saviours for sick newborns admitted to intensive care units. It also has a preventive effect on prematurity-related morbidities such as late-onset sepsis, broncho-pulmonary dysplasia — chronic lung disease –, necrotising enterocolitis — intestinal disease in premature babies, and retinopathy — disease of the eye.

In May, the country’s top food safety body the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a directive to all states to stop granting licences for the sale or processing of human milk.

“All activities related to the commercialisation of human milk and its products should be immediately stopped,” it said while strictly prohibiting the sale or any commercial activity involving human milk.

The regulator warned that it should only be used to feed newborns or infants in health facilities.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 26 (IANS) People are more likely to trust doctors and scientists, while their faith in public health agencies and social media is much less, finds a study.

The study, conducted at the University of Florida examined the factors fueling this mistrust and explored potential solutions.

The team analysed responses from 5,842 adults in the US.

The results, published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine, showed that 95 per cent of respondents trust doctors highly, trust in scientists was at 84 per cent. But faith in government health agencies (70 per cent) was lower. Social media garnered the least trust, with only 18 per cent of respondents considering it a reliable source.

“Individuals who perceive conflict among experts about health recommendations, and who perceive that recommendations are constantly changing, have significantly lower trust in health information provided by government health agencies,” said Mainous.

The study’s findings suggest that the public’s perception of conflicting and changing recommendations contributes to a lack of trust in scientists and health agencies.

“Our scientific and medical knowledge is always in flux, leading the public to question the expertise of government health agencies and perceive a political angle when it comes to recommendation,” Mainous said.

To restore trust, the study suggests leveraging the trust in doctors.

“Government agencies need to continue to provide patient education but focus more on letting individual physicians disseminate agency recommendations to patients,” Mainous said.

–IANS

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