'HIV patients leaving treatment mid-way'

Vadodara: Concerned over increasing number of HIV patients leaving ART therapy mid-way, SSG Hospital's Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC) has launched an initiative to educate the patients on ways to sustain the heavy dose of medicines administered.



While the inability to sustain the side-effects of the medicine is a major reason among the patients, doctors believe that the travel to the only ART center in the region at SSG Hospital is also a challenge for many patients.

Reverse symptoms of Alzheimer, Parkinson found

A new study describes an innovative strategy that reverses symptoms in the  neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer and Parkinson, at least in fruit flies which had been genetically altered to model the diseases.

These common neurodegenerative disorders cause untold suffering to millions of patients and their families. Treatments for these diseases are limited, and no cures exist.

"The novel approach we used has significant translational implications," said one of the lead researcher, Robert Schwarcz.

Anonymity helps Hyderabadis talk sexual, mental health

While sexual and mental health issues remain taboo even today, the anonymity that online forums offer these days comes as a life saver for many Hyderabadis. An affirmation of this can be found in a six-city survey carried out by Lybrate, an online medical consultation platform -that shows a whopping 56% of interactions by city users are in relation to mental and intimate problems. 

SCARF to offer diploma course in mental health care and counselling

CHENNAI: The Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF) will launch a diploma course in mental health care and counselling, intended for medical and allied health professionals.

The one-year course -- to be launched in July 2016 -- will provide practical training in psycho-social rehabilitation, including patient and family counselling, and psychological interventions along with their theoretical aspects. The programme will also train people to work at the community level.
"Given the paucity of mental health professionals in India, we anticipate that this course will help fulfill an important gap and improve the skills of mental health professionals to offer valuable inputs to those who need it," said Dr R Thara, director, SCARF.

Those who have completed/completing their bachelors in psychology, social work, nursing and other allied medical specialties, doctors and interested care givers can apply.

For details, visit www.scarfedu.org or send an email to info@scarfedu.org

Unicef bats for better health reporting in India

NEW DELHI: To sensitize media students with public health reporting skills, Unicef India, in partnership with Oxford University, held a three-month long awareness and skill development programme in Delhi for the first time in India.
Forty students of premier media institute Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) finished the course here, currently offered to public health professionals in Britain.

On the importance of the programme, Sunil Arora, secretary, ministry of information and broadcasting said: "... it would have a visionary impact on reportage leading to more evidence-based coverage of crucial subjects such as public health and related development issues."

Louis-Georges Arsenault, Unicef's country representative said: "Our consultations with media and journalism schools across the country gave us key insights on the need to make a valuable yet simple course which enables a scientific and evidence-based approach to reporting public health issues, especially those concerning child survival."

The IIMC customised and piloted the course at its campus in Delhi, over a period of three months.