Director of 'Jai Bhim.. Comrade'

Shri Anand Patwardhan, Director of 'Jai Bhim.. Comrade' a film on Dalit atrocity addressing the Press Conference, at the “MIFF- 2012”, in Mumbai on February 06, 2012.  {PIB photo 06-February-2012}

Urinary Incontinence is curable”

An UK Expert Dr Meena Dass visiting to CMC Hospital

Ludhiana//Feb 6, 2012//
Dr Meena Dass, Consultant Uro-Gynecologist at the Barnsley NHS Hospital Trust, UK, who will be visiting the Department of Urology at CMCH on 08-10 February-2012, in a telephonic interview said that Urinary Incontinence in women is embarrassing but it is treatable. Urinary incontinence means that you can't always control when you urinate. As a result, you wet your clothes most of the time during the day and night. This is embarrassing, but it can always be cured. Urinary incontinence can be caused by many different medical problems, including weak pelvic muscles or diabetes, after repeated child births, obesity and as part of aging in the females. Stress incontinence is when urine leaks because of sudden pressure on your lower abdominal muscles, such as when you cough, laugh, lift something or exercise. Stress incontinence usually occurs when the pelvic muscles are weakened, for example by childbirth or surgery. Stress incontinence is common in women. Surgery can be helpful. It is usually done if other treatment modalities haven't worked or if the incontinence is severe.

Dr Meena Dass described the new surgical technique of “Tension Free Vaginal Tape – Obturator Approach (TVT-O)” and highlighted its advantage over various other surgical procedures for Stress Urinary Incontinence (SIU). Dr Kim Mammen, HOD of Urology, CMCH, emphasized that the TVT-O Technique and use of similar slings, is a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of patients with Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) who do not improve with medications. It improves the quality of life and makes the patients dry.
Dr Meena Dass along with Dr Kim Mammen and the Urology Team including Dr Francis Sridhar Katumalla, Dr Shafiq Ahmed and Dr Amit Tuli will be available to treat patients with Stress Urinary Incontinence. We hope to see many patients coming into our hospital “wet” and going  home “dry”, said Dr Kim Mammen, Professor & Head, Department of Urology, CMCH. Dr Meena Dass will be available for consultation from 08-10 February-2012 at the Department of Urology with prior appointment. The contact telephone for prior appointment: 0161-5026999 Extension: 5026 [Urology Office].
“I was unable to go for any social functions because I was always wet but, now after this surgical procedure, I am absolutely dry and I do not have to wear any pads. I do not smell of urine and I feel more confident of myself” said one of the patients who were recently operated at CMCH Urology Department. Dr Kim Mammen highlighted that the cost of this “Tension Free Vaginal Tape – Obturator Approach (TVT-O)” which is imported is available at a subsidized rate of Rs 20000.00 but for genuinely poor and needy patients few of these Tapes can be made available free of cost through Philanthropists and charitable organizations. Shalu Arora and Rector Kathuria

A high level British Defence Trade Mission in India

A high level British Defence Trade Mission and Delegation led by Mr. Gerald Howarth, United Kingdom's Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Ministry Of Defence, who is titled as Minister for Internal Security Strategy, called on the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. M.M. Pallam Raju, in New Delhi on February 06, 2012.    {PIB photo.....06-February-2012}

Inauguration of the Sapporo Snow Festival

The Union Tourism Minister, Shri Subodh Kant Sahai addressing at the inauguration of the Sapporo Snow Festival, at Sapporo, Japan on February 06, 2012. {PIB photo}06-February-2012

Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)

Information Kit for Rural Mothers
FEATURE PIC – Tamil Nadu                               Dr. K. Parameswaran*

Photo courtesy: Sand Box Schools

India has achieved, in more than one way, the recognition as a global power in many significant economic sectors. Nationally, a lot of positive trends on many social indicators like the near eradication of polio, significant increase in literacy rates and the increased rates in enrolment of both boys and girls in primary schools. However, progress has been slow in areas requiring systemic changes, such as in the provision of good quality community health services. There has also been only limited changes in health related behaviors like hand washing and exclusive breastfeeding.
To better the social health and economic conditions of women and children, the Government has adopted a number of programmes and initiatives. Many of these centrally-sponsored schemes, like the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the Reproductive and Child Health Programme, the National Rural Health Mission and the Integrated Child Development Services have increased public resources to key sectors. However, the main challenge to be overcome in these sectors is to deliver these commitments and initiatives into results that can be measured.

ICDS Restructured

It is against this background that the paradigm shift of the Ministry of Women & Child Development in its approach to social sector issues assumes significance. The variance in approach signifies a replacement of the earlier solely only welfare oriented methodology with the aim of the holistic empowerment of women and child.
           The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, launched in 1975 is the major component of these programmes. It has been expanded in three phases in the years 2005-06, 2007-08 and 2008-09.

Under the scheme, 6771 ICDS Projects and 12.95 lakh AWCs (Anganwadi Centers) are working as at present. Their services are being availed by more than nine and a half crore beneficiaries.  The number of AWCs has increased by more than half a crore during 2010 - 2011.

Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)

Another important development in this respect has been the Union Government’s decision to formulate a national policy and curriculum framework on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE). This policy is to be put into operation through the strengthened and restructured ICDS. This will result in the AWCs being re positioned as the Early Childhood Development Centres. These centres, in turn, will function as an enabling environment for promotion of early childhood development, with a sharp focus on delivering quality ECCE.

Information Kit for Rural Mothers.

It is against these developments that Information, Communication and Education (ICE) packages fro the Indian Rural Women have to be formulated. The following are some of the major points that will be covered by such packages.

·         No marriage before the girl is eighteen years old.

·         Breast feeding the child is equally important for the health and immunity - not only of the child, but also of the mother.

·         The mile stones of the child development must be watched for and noted. It is the responsibility of not only the health worker, or the mother! Rather it is the responsibility of the whole family!! (Important milestones include the fixing of the head, sight and hearing abilities, appropriate increase in weight etc).

·         The immunization schedule for the child should be strictly followed. The immunization card provided by the rural health worker can be of great aid in providing an added vigour to following the schedule.

·         The father of the child has an equally important role in the growth of the child. It is he who provides the fledgling child with a sense of security and confidence to take on life as part of a society. The rate of the growth of intelligence of a child increases when the child is brought up by both the father and the mother rather than when by a single parent. (PIB Feature). {03-February-2012 14:40 IST}       ******

*Assistant Director, PIB, Madurai.
With inputs from Ministry of Women & Child Development and the UNICEF.