Tag: Professor

Business

G-SPARC 2024: Hyderabad Declaration Takes Bold Steps on Global Health and AMR

Oct 5, 2024 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #AMR, #Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), #Control and Antimicrobial Stewardship(G-SPARC)-2024, #Dr. Guru N Reddy, #Dr. Raghu N Reddy, #Dr. Ranga Reddy Burri, #Dr. Shamanna, #G-Sparc 2024, #Infection Prevention, #Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), #Mr. Gareth Wynn Owen, #Mr. Nkwan Jacob Gobte, #Patient Safety, #PC & AMS Hospitals, #Prof. GVS Murthy, #Prof. Shaheen Mehtar, #Professor, #R Govind Hari, #Sri. B J Rao, #UNGA (United Nations General Assembly)

Hyderabad, October 05, 2024:  The three-day Global South Conference on Infection Prevention, Control and Antimicrobial Stewardship(G-SPARC)-2024 which is being attended by well over 2000 delegates concluded on Saturday evening.

G-SPARC 2024, Hyderabad Declaration and Two White papers on AMR and State Action Plans and Oral Health and AMR Declaration unveiled. Seen are Govind Hari, Ranga Reddy and others_pic 8

Prof. GVS Murthy, President, PRASHO; R Govind Hari, Chairman, PRASHO; Dr. Ranga Reddy Burri, Chairman G-Sparc; Dr. Raghu N Reddy, Co-Chair of G-Sparc and Continental Hospitals; Dr. Shamanna, Professor, University of Hyderabad; Sri. B J Rao, Vice Chancellor, University of Hyderabad; Mr. Gareth Wynn Owen, Deputy High Commissioner, UK Consulate, Hyderabad and Mr. Nkwan Jacob Gobte, Honorary Secretary, ICAN graced the closing function

R Govind Hari, Co-Chair, G-SPARC 2024 gave a welcome address.

The organisers have unveiled G-SPARC 2024, Hyderabad Declaration. Two White papers on AMR and State Action Plans for containment in India and Oral Health and AMR Declaration. It presented 21 recommendations in its Hyderabad Declaration. The following are a few highlights of the 21 recommendations.

Awards was presented to five leaders in AMR and IPC. Seen in the pic is Prof. Chedili Azzouz, Chairman, ICAN seen receiving the award. Also seen ar Ranga Reddy, Govind Hari and others_pic 2

The declaration said AMR is a manmade disaster and has to be fought by concerted action.

Countries must institute effective and efficient surveillance and monitoring mechanisms.

Strong collaborations must be forged between Global South countries. The countries must support each other and stop the emergence of AMR and newer strains.

All countries in the global south must articulate strategies and action plans to combat AMR.

The high-income countries in the world should allocate a healthy proportion of their GDP to help Global South countries to fight AMR.

To see that at least 60% of countries have funded national action plans on AMR by 2030.

The Global Anti-Microbial Resistance Multi-Partner Trust Fund mooted by the UNGA (United Nations General Assembly) should prioritize countries of the Global South.

UNGA should target that at least 70% of Antibiotics used for Human Health globally should belong to the WHO Access Group Antibiotics with relatively minimal side effects and potential to cause AMR.

The One Health approach should be the cornerstone of all AMR activities.

Adequate funding should be earmarked for awareness campaigns

It strongly recommended that across the Global South, no Antibiotics including topical preparations should be dispensed without a qualified health practitioner’s prescription

G-Sparc calls for India’s remaining g states and union territories to develop and implement state-level Action Plans by 2026.

Every health facility must have an Infection, Prevention, Control and AMR committee

Community engagements are critical in reducing AMR and improving IPC practices.

During the closing ceremony, three MoUs were signed and exchanged.

One MoU was signed and exchanged between PRASHO & Oxford Brookes to Design and Offer Academic Programs to improve public health capacity including in WASH, IPC & AMS. The MoU was exchanged between Dr. Sarah Howcutt, Lead of Public Health & Sri. R Govind Hari, Chairman, PRASHO.

The second MoU was between SCIINV from Telangana, India & Microbira UK. Two prominent startups who are building digital tools for improving AMR diagnostic capacity to form a Joint Venture to jointly invest & further develop tools for containment of AMR. Dr. Marianne Ismail of Microbira, Dr. Ratnakar, Dr. Pradeep and Mr. Krishna Burri from SCIINV participated and exchanged the MoU.

The 3rd MoU was signed between ICAN & IFCAI, for a deeper collaboration for improving policy and practices of IPC and AMS in Global South. Prof. Chedli Azouzz and Prof. Ranga Reddy Burri exchanged the MoU.

Awards were presented to five leaders in AMR and IPC (Infection Prevention Control) and Three hospitals for best practices in AMR. They include Prof. Purva Mathur – AIIMS Delhi; Prof. Chedili Azzouz, Chairman, ICAN; Dr. Anuj Sharma – WHO India Country Office; Ms. Shailaja Teacher – fomer. Health Minister Kerala. She was not present in person to receive the same. Dr. Annie Thakore received the Award on her behalf.

The other recipients were Prof. Shaheen Mehtar – South Africa. Mr. Nkwan Jacob Gobte, Honorary Secretary, ICAN received her behalf.

Awards for excellence in the IPC & AMS Hospitals category were presented to AIIMS, Delhi, Dr. Purva Mathur received the award; Continental Hospitals, Dr. Guru N Reddy received the award and Pranaam Hospitals, Dr. Maneesh Gour received it on behalf of the hospital.

The objective of the conference was to provide a platform for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), and Patient Safety stakeholders from Global South.

G-Sparc was organized by the Infection Control Academy of India (IFCAI); University of Hyderabad (UoH); Pragyaan Sustainable Health Outcomes Foundation (PRASHO)

Business, Education, News

Hyderabad psychologists’ team led by Dr. JP Das launch BBIT, a unique IQ test made in India

Jul 21, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #Canada, #Center on Developmental & Learning Disabilities, #Director, #Dr. Jagannath Prasad Das, #Educational Psychology at the University of Alberta, #Professor

Hyderabad: Dr. Jagannath Prasad Das, one of the world’s leading cognitive psychologists and a reputed professor in psychology launched BBIT or the Brain-Based Intelligence Test, a unique IQ test, made for Indian population with a passion to find the answer, unmatched in scope and power that represents a major advance in understanding how our brain works. The IQ test is born out of thorough research and greater vision by a team of eminent psychologists from Hyderabad led by Dr. JP Das.

This unique IQ test, made for Indian population with a huge sample size, enables educators and curriculum developers to enhance the cognitive processes for a robust foundation in academic learning, especially in reading and math. This test also assists clinicians in the diagnosis of impairment of cortical functions as evident in conditions like stroke, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury. Additionally, this test has diagnostic criteria to identify hyperactivity and specific learning difficulties in children. is the brainchild of Dr. Jagannath Prasad Das, who is an internationally recognized expert in Educational Psychology, Intelligence and Childhood Development. Some of his significant contributions to Psychology include PASS theory of Intelligence and the Das-Naglieri Cognitive Assessment System.

Dr. JP Das is currently the Emeritus Director of the Center on Developmental & Learning Disabilities and Emeritus Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Alberta, Canada. He is a member of the Royal Society of Canada and was inducted into the Order of Canada in 2015, the highest honour that Canada can confer on its citizens.

His outstanding research on reformulating the concept and measurement of Intelligence has captured national and international interests. An elite team of psychologists under the guidance of Dr. JP Das has developed this IQ test which measures significant cognitive processes.

BBIT launched all over India on July 17, 2021, through an online event, where the stalwarts of academia, educationists, psychologists, and other eminent personalities will be participating. The launch event will be inaugurated by Shri. Rajesh Tope, Minister of Health, State of Maharashtra, and presided by Dr. Kalidas D Chavan, Registrar, University of Health Sciences, Maharashtra.

Health

Prof C Durga Rao receives a grant to enhance vaccine efficacy at a reduced cost…

Mar 31, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #and Associate Dean, #Andhra Pradesh, #Department of Biology, #Department of Biotechnology, #Government of India, #Prof C Durga Rao (Principal Investigator), #Professor, #Sciences, #SRM University-AP

Prof C Durga Rao (Principal Investigator), Professor, Department of Biology, and Associate Dean, Sciences,Department of Biology, SRM University-AP, Andhra Pradesh has received a total outlay of Rs. 1,10,52,941/- from the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, to work on the project titled “Understanding the molecular basis for the extreme differential level of expression of genes from human and animal rotaviruses in gene-transfected cells: Implications for improving the growth of human vaccine strains”. Using the grant, the professor will be spawning the appropriate facilities to perform cell culture and virus-related research at SRM University-AP.

Understanding how a virus overpowers the host resistance mechanisms and seizes the host cellular processes for its own growth is very challenging and is essential for the development of not only efficient viral vaccines but also for antiviral therapeutic strategies. Prof Durga Rao informs, “Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe and acute dehydrating diarrhoea in infants and children below 5 years of age. Efforts by us and Dr Bhan, former Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, led to the discovery and development of the first made in India rotavirus vaccine, produced by Bharat Biotech, Hyderabad.”

In the earlier project, Professor Rao observed that while some human rotaviral proteins could be expressed at high levels when the cloned genes were introduced into mammalian cells, other proteins could not be expressed at detectable levels. However, the virus expresses copious amounts of all its proteins when it infects the cells. Prof

Durga Rao further shares, “Within a few hours of infection, each virus employs several ploys in the infected cell to subvert the cellular defence and regulatory mechanisms and captures the host for its own progeny production.”
Based on the earlier observations, this project will advance to unravel the tricks employed by the virus, and viral transactions in the infected cells. The outcome of the project will have implications for genetically engineering the poorly growing human vaccine strains for their efficient growth in cell culture, leading to reduced cost of not only rotavirus vaccines, but also other viral vaccines.

Business World

IIHMR University to train 100 Administrative Nursing Cadre for the Government of Madhya Pradesh

Feb 27, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #Dean Training, #Dr. PR Sodani, #Dr. Shiv K. Tripathi, #IIHMR University, #madhya pradesh, #Mrs. JwalaArsey, #President, #Professor, #State Consultant

IIHMR University known as the Global Public Health Hub and an institution garnering excellence in Public Health and Higher Education in the healthcare sector has concluded a Management Training Programme for the Administrative Nursing Cadre for the Government of Madhya Pradesh. IIHMR University has conducted multiple Management Development Programmes for the healthcare cadre both Government and privately owned institutions across various states. The Management Training for Administrative Nursing Cadre for Government of Madhya Pradesh will be in three phases. The first phase has trained23 Nurses that belong to various senior and junior level hierarchies.

Dr. PR Sodani, President, IIHMR University said, “IIHMR University’s Management Development Programmes are specialised and research based and because of this we work with many Governments and international agencies for capacity development in healthcare cadre. This Management training programme has been conducted with the aim to train nurses at different hierarchies, who are working at Government Hospitals/ Health Centres in Madhya Pradesh. The Training programme focused on behavioural and clinical skills along with experiential learning through visit to various Government facilities.”

The recent pandemic has shown data facts that there was a shortage of nursing staff. According to Union health ministry data, there are just 1.7 nurses per 1,000 people in India, which is less than the WHO’s prescribed minimum of 3. Capacity building programmes during COVID-19 has been an important aspect which has been laid by the Government too.

Dr. Shiv K Tripathi, Professor, Dean Training, IIHMR University said, “through this capacity building programme, we will be training 100 nurses from Madhya Pradesh in 3 batches. The overall aim of the training programme is to enhance management and administrative skills of nursing managers and administrators. The training is intended to create and share good understanding of different functional and behavioural competencies, required to delivering high quality and people centric nursing services.”

Mrs. JwalaArsey, State Consultant, Madhya Pradesh said, “We are glad that IIHMR University has given an opportunity to all the Nursing Cadre across various hierarchies from MP to be a part of this training programme. We are hopeful that all the nurses and the cadre that have been trained today shall implement what they have learnt during this training programme.”

Through this Management Training, the Administrative Nursing Cadre for Government of Madhya Pradesh shall understand the emerging approaches to effectively manage nursing services. It will also help them to effectively manage the supply-chain (pharmaceutical) operations involved in planning and delivery of nursing services. The Nursing cadre will also be able to manage the professional and ethical behaviour in service delivery.

The Management Development Programmes at IIHMR University have always been dedicated where participants learn to examine the economic, political, social, and ethical demands of top leadership and broaden their vision, navigate critical business challenges, and ignite change both personally and professionally. They gain a new perspective, actionable business strategies, and leadership development in the academically rigorous program with and experience that will impact the trajectory of their careers, providing strategic skills and connections that will last for a lifetime.

Education, News

Afghanistan and India participate in IIHMR University’s talk on Public Health Actions for Universal Health Coverage in Developing Countries

Feb 23, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #Advisor, #and Dean (Research), #Chairman, #Dr. Ashok Agarwal, #Dr. DK Mangal, #Dr. Ferozuddin Feroz, #Dr. Indu Bhushan, #Dr. SD Gupta, #Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ayushman Bharat, #Former Health Minister of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, #IAS, #IIHMR University, #Professor, #SD Gupta School of Public Health, #Trustee Secretary of IIHMR

IIHMR University organized a webinar on ‘Public Health Actions for Universal Health Coverage in Developing Countries.’ This webinar was organized under the aegis of SD Gupta School of Public Health (SDG-SPH). Dr. Ashok Agarwal, Trustee Secretary of IIHMR, Dr. Ferozuddin Feroz, Former Health Minister of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dr. Indu Bhushan, IAS, Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ayushman Bharat, Dr. SD Gupta, Chairperson, Dr. PR Sodani, President, IIHMR University, were the Panelists. Dr. D. K. Mangal, Professor, and Dean (Research), Advisor, SD Gupta School of Public Health, IIHMR University moderated the session. The webinar focused on the importance of health coverage and the challenges of overcoming the need for basic access to quality health services the world over in developing countries.

Dr. Ashok Agarwal, Trustee Secretary of IIHMR said, “SD Gupta School of Public Health (SDG-SPH) has been launched to felicitate the contribution of Dr. SD Gupta to the universe of Public Health. The SDG-SPH has been launched with a vision to train public health leaders, address knowledge on pressing health challenges and enhance population health and well-being. SDG-SPH is dedicated the improvement of health and well-being globally by preparing students to become public health leaders, scholars and practitioners.”

Dr. Ferozuddin Feroz, Former Health Minister of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, said, “More than 50% of the population world over does not have access to essential, quality & affordable health services. Over 930 million people, or 12% of the world’s population, spend at least 10% of the household budgets to pay for healthcare (WHO 2019). UHC contributes to achieving the objectives of other SDGs. UHC focuses on Promotion, Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation. Universal coverage does not mean free coverage for all health interventions regardless of the cost; it is about embracing health systems, health service delivery, health workforce, health facility, communication networks, quality assurance mechanisms as well as governance. Universal Health Coverage cannot be improved unless equity is achieved.”

Universal Health Coverage should be designed based on scientific criteria, the country’s disease burden, cost-effectiveness studies, and health technology assessments.

Dr. Indu Bhushan, IAS, Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ayushman Bharat, said, “From 2000s India has made considerable progress on health indicators. Infant Mortality rate has declined by 51%, Maternal Mortality Rate has declined by 61%, and the number of seats for MBBS has tripled which we see an increase to 242% i.e number of MBBS seats has increased from 25058 in 2006 to 85726 in 2020. We have also seen an increase in public health expenditure by 80% and life expectancy has increased by 9%.”

Dr. Indu Bhushan further added, “The objective of the National Health Policy of 2017 has been guiding the UHC to achieve its targets. The response to COVID-19 Pandemic has strengthened the response to healthcare where we see rapid infrastructure up-gradation, policy reforms, and increase in healthcare awareness campaigns, augmenting infectious disease surveillance program, adoption of digital innovative solutions, improvement in hygiene standards, push for undertaking more research, deepening global cooperation on health and capacity building of health workers.”

Major National Health Policy targets for 2025 have been an increase in life expectancy to 70, reduce neo-natal mortality to a single digit, decrease household facing catastrophic expenditure by 25%, reduce premature mortality from NCDs by 25%, increase health expenditure by Government as a percentage of GDP to 2.5% and establish integrated health information architecture. For achieving the ambitious targets of UHC, India needs to counter several challenges such as fragmented and siloed health delivery, limited availability of human resources, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, asymmetry and deficit in access to health information, affordability of healthcare, and non-standardized quality of healthcare.

Dr. SD Gupta, Chairman, IIHMR University said, “SDG-SPH has been established to develop an institution that focuses on not mastering theories but transmitting these theories in practice. The institution shall be exploring new areas in public health and shall emerge as a thought leader.”

Dr. DK Mangal, Professor, and Dean (Research), Advisor, SD Gupta School of Public Health, IIHMR University moderated the session stated, “Universal health coverage is about ensuring that people have access to healthcare without suffering financial hardships. It is the key to ending achieving the twin objective of ending extreme poverty and increasing equity and shared prosperity. Goal 3 and target 3.8 aim at achieving universal health coverage and includes financial protection and access to quality essential healthcare services and affordable medicines and vaccines for all. About 90 million people are impoverished by health expenses every year. However, Universal Health coverage has gained momentum.”