20-Oct-2021: Indigenous knowledge shared by Gujarat-based farmer can combat Mastitis, an ailment of dairy cattle
Utilising indigenous knowledge system shared by a farmer from Gujarat, a poly-herbal and cost-effective medicine has been developed to treat Mastitis, an infectious disease of dairy cattle.
The medicine called Mastirak Gel, developed by National Innovation Foundation (NIF) has been commercialized through the industry partner Rakesh Pharmaceuticals. It can be purchased at medical stores supplying veterinary medicines in various parts of the country.
Mastitis is a common infectious disease, which affects farm productivity due to fall in milk quality, thus impacting income-generating activities. Treatment of infected animals with antibiotics poses a public health hazard. Indigenous knowledge systems can offer a more sustainable alternative, and their scientific evaluation is necessary to integrate these medications in the health care system. Continuous expansion in development of technologies and products is required towards management of mastitis with minimal use of antibiotic therapy.
To this end, NIF, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, which reinvigorates indigenous technologies based on farmer’s wisdom, has identified this unique herbal composition shared by a farmer from Gujarat for control of mastitis among farm animals. A gel preparation has been developed for topical application over the affected udder surface, and a patent has been filed for this composition shared by Shri Becharbhai Samatbhai Devgania.
It was found that the medication could minimize Somatic Cell Count (SCC) and improve the udder health. The Somatic Cell Count is a parameter noted globally, and efforts are fine-tuned in reducing the SCC in milk at standard limit. The polyherbal medicine reduced inflammation which is detrimental to udder. This critical analysis of the indigenous knowledge system led to development of value-added commercial product Mastirak with the support of industry partner Rakesh Pharmaceuticals which is currently manufacturing and distributing it in different parts of the country.
Dairy owners in eight states of the country --- Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh have benefited by adopting Mastirak-antimastitis herbal medication. It has reduced the use of antibiotics and helped in the cost-effective management of the disease.
6-Aug-2021: Asthma Patients
A study ‘The burden of chronic respiratory diseases and their heterogeneity across the states of India: The Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2016” was published in Lancet 2018 by ICMR. As per the study, the prevalence of Asthma reduced from 3468 per 100000 in 1990 to 3336 per 100000 in 2016 showing a decline of 3.8 percent over a period of 26 years.
Health is a state subject. The Department of Health & Family Welfare, however, provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS), as part of National Health Mission (NHM), based on the proposals received in Program Implementation Plans (PIPs) from the States/UTs and subject to the resource envelope. The programme focusses on strengthening infrastructure, human resource development, health promotion & awareness generation for prevention, early diagnosis, management and referral to an appropriate level of healthcare facility for treatment of the given Non-Communicable Diseases including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD) and Asthma.
Under NPCDCS, 640 NCD Clinics at District level and 5148 NCD Clinics at Community Health Centre level have been set up to ensure the treatment of common NCDs including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD) and Asthma.
Patients with Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD) and Asthma are diagnosed and treated at various tertiary health care facilities such as Medical Colleges, Central Institutes like AIIMS, etc. The treatment in Government health facilities is either free, or highly subsidized for the poor and needy. The treatment for in-patient care is also available under Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) for 10.74 crore families eligible under AB-PMJAY as per Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC) database.
Under Free Drugs Service Initiative of NHM, financial support is provided to States/UTs for provision of free essential medicines. Furthermore, quality generic medicines are being made available at affordable prices to all, under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana in collaboration with the State Governments.
Preventive aspect of NCDs including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD) and Asthma is being strengthened under Comprehensive Primary Health Care under Ayushman Bharat - Health and Wellness Centers, by promotion of wellness activities and targeted communication at the community level. NPCDCS gives financial support under NHM for awareness generation (IEC) activities to be undertaken by the States/UTs as per their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs), subject to resource envelope.
Further, in order to accelerate actions for reducing deaths due to Childhood Pneumonia (ARI), an initiative named “Social Awareness and Actions to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS)” has been launched in 2019 under Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) program under the aegis of NHM.
National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has also prepared and shared Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials on Air Pollution as a risk factor for ARI, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD) and Asthma, and shared it with all the States/UTs.
27-Jul-2021: New Policy on Pneumonia to Reduce Infant Mortality
As per Sample Registration System Report (2010-13) of Registrar General of India, Pneumonia contributes 16.9% of infant deaths and it is the 2nd highest cause of infant mortality.
The list of major causes of infant mortality in India as per the above report is placed at annexure.
In order to accelerate actions for reducing deaths due to childhood Pneumonia, an initiative named “Social Awareness and Actions to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS)” has been launched in 2019. The SAANS initiative encompasses three pronged strategies:
- Guidelines on treatment and management of childhood Pneumonia including introduction of use of Amoxicillin by ANM.
- Capacity building of service providers for identification and standardized management of Pneumonia.
- Communication campaign to ensure greater awareness on childhood Pneumonia among families and parents.
16-Nov-2019: SAANS campaign launched
The 6th NHM National Summit saw the launch of SAANS campaign i.e. “Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully” to control Pneumonia. This campaign will mobilize people's for protecting and preventing children from pneumonia; and health personnel, governments & other stakeholders to prioritize treatment towards the control of Pneumonia — one of the most fatal childhood illnesses.
Under the SAANS campaign, new interventions have been included like a child suffering from Pneumonia will be treated with pre-referral dose of Amoxicillin by ASHA; Pulse Oximeter will be used at the Health and Wellness Centre for identification of low oxygen levels in the blood and if required treated by use of Oxygen. The initiative also aims to create mass awareness about the most effective solutions for pneumonia prevention like breast feeding, age appropriate complementary feeding, immunization, good quality air etc.
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, GoI holds National Summit on Good, Replicable Practices and Innovations in Public Healthcare Systems in India annually to recognize, showcase and document various best practices and innovations adopted by States and UTs for addressing their public health challenges and to improving their health outcomes though better implementation of programmes under National Health Mission (NHM). More than 300 participants attended the summit. At the summit 37 good practices were presented and 73 emerging good practices were showcased in the form of poster presentations.