 Kohima, 18-09-2025 (MExN): The Department of Social Welfare, Government of Nagaland, through the State Project Management Unit (SPMU) under Poshan Abhiyaan, will officially launch the month-long nationwide celebration of Poshan Maah 2025 from September 17 to October 16. Since its inception in 2018, Poshan Maah has grown into one of the largest people’s movements on nutrition in India, with millions of activities conducted annually across every state and district. It has become a cornerstone of the Government of India’s flagship Poshan Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission), engaging Anganwadi workers, ASHAs, schools, local bodies, frontline departments, NGOs, and communities. Over the years, the celebration has significantly raised awareness on nutrition, health, hygiene, and the importance of community-led action in building a malnutrition-free India. Preparing for the launch of Poshan Maah 2025, Olemjungla Aier, Joint Secretary & Project Director of Poshan Abhiyaan, Nagaland stated “Poshan Maah has become a nationwide Jan Andolan that unites government departments, communities, and families in the fight against malnutrition. In Nagaland, we are committed to blending traditional food practices and community strengths with this national effort to ensure healthier mothers, stronger children, and a nourished future for all, she stated. The Department of Social Welfare called upon every citizen of Nagaland to actively participate in Poshan Maah 2025, reinforcing the vision of a Suposhit Bharat-Nourished India. Poshan Maah 2025 – Focus areas This year, five key themes have been identified nationwide, which Nagaland is also observing through community-based activities, workshops, rallies, and awareness drives: (1) Addressing Obesity- Reducing excess sugar and oil consumption, promoting balanced diets, and growth monitoring of children. (2) Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE)- Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi-Strengthening pre-school education through storytelling, play-based learning, and parental engagement. (3) Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam- A green initiative encouraging tree plantation, nutrition gardens (Poshan Vatikas), and eco-friendly practices. (4) Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) – Promoting exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding, hygiene, and anemia prevention.(5) Men-Streaming- Actively engaging men as caregivers and nutrition champions to support family health and well-being. Convergence in action One of the unique strengths of Poshan Maah is the multi-departmental convergence approach. In Nagaland, the celebration is being carried out jointly by the Departments of Social Welfare, Health & Family Welfare, School Education, NSRLM-Rural Development, Agriculture, Horticulture, Forest, Environment & Climate Change, and AYUSH, along with the active involvement of local bodies, community organizations, and village councils. This convergence ensures that health services (growth monitoring, anemia screening, IYCF counseling) are combined with education initiatives (ECCE workshops, school rallies), agriculture and horticulture departments promote Poshan Vatikas and kitchen gardens to strengthen food security, environment and forest departments support plantation drives under Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam, community participation is fostered through the involvement of traditional leaders, SHGs, schools, and youth groups. This integrated effort reflects the spirit of Jan Andolan (People’s Movement), making nutrition everyone’s responsibility. Nagaland’s statewide campaign In Nagaland, the campaign is being implemented across all districts with activities such as: Launching ceremonies with Poshan Pledges and community engagement, growth monitoring of ICDS beneficiaries, ECCE workshops and community-based events showcasing indigenous toys and folktales, tree plantation drives, Poshan Rallies, and the setting up of kitchen gardens, Anemia camps, IYCF counseling sessions, and food demonstrations using local ingredients, men-focused workshops and Suposhan Diwas to involve fathers and youth in child nutrition and closing ceremonies recognizing the best-performing functionaries. This was stated in a release issued by State Project Management Unit (SPMU), Poshan Abhiyaan, Department of Social Welfare, Government of Nagaland. Nagaland joins nation in celebrating Poshan Maah 2025 | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com |
ESIC NE organises mega awareness, outreach & health camp in Dimapur (2025-08-14T13:26:00+05:30)
 Attendees of the ‘Mega Awareness-cum-Outreach and Preventive Health Check-up Camp’ organised by Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), North-East Regional Office on August 12 in Dimapur. (Photo Courtesy: ESIC NE Office) Dimapur, August 14 (MExN): The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), North-East Regional Office, organised a ‘Mega Awareness-cum-Outreach and Preventive Health Check-up Camp’ in Dimapur on August 12 aimed at promoting awareness of the ESI Scheme and its benefits among stakeholders, employers, employees, and beneficiaries. Gracing the event, Chief Guest, Pranay Sinha, Insurance Commissioner (NE Zone), highlighted two key initiatives during the event. The first was SPREE 2025 (Scheme for Promotion of Registration of Employers and Employees), approved at the 196th ESI Corporation meeting chaired by Union Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya. Running from July 1 to December 31, 2025, the scheme offers a one-time opportunity for unregistered employers and employees, including contractual and temporary workers, to enrol under the ESI Scheme without the risk of inspections or penalties for past dues. The second was the Amnesty Scheme 2025, which will be in effect from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026. This scheme aims to resolve long-standing disputes, particularly those involving interest and damages, and empowers Regional Directors to withdraw cases once dues are cleared—thereby reducing the legal burden on employers Meanwhile, ESIC NE Regional Director Robert L Guite informed that the ESI Scheme is currently operational in eight Nagaland districts namely Dimapur, Kohima, Mokokchung, Chumukedima, Niuland, Tseminyu, Wokha, and Zunheboto. It covers 4630 insured persons and benefiting over 17,965 people. At the event, Avile Vitso, CEO of ESI Scheme, Nagaland, explained the scheme’s benefits, tie-up arrangements, and procedures for availing services. The programme provided a platform for knowledge sharing, grievance redressal, and feedback to improve service delivery, informed a press release from the regional office. The event saw active participation from employers, employees, and representatives of various employers’ associations and workers’ unions in large number, it added. |
Bridge Project hosts awareness meet on women’s health (2025-06-14T12:22:00+05:30)
 Participants and resource persons at the awareness programme on Women’s Health hosted by Kohima College, in collaboration with its Women’s Cell and the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) as part of its flagship initiative—Bridge Project: Connecting Academic Institutions with Local Communities. KOHIMA, (MExN): Kohima College, in collaboration with its Women’s Cell and the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), organised an awareness programme on “Women’s Health” at the college conference hall as part of its flagship initiative—Bridge Project: Connecting Academic Institutions with Local Communities. The event was aimed at sensitising and educating women from the local community on various aspects of health and wellness, with particular focus on self-care and preventive healthcare. The programme was chaired by Dr Limayangla Pongener, Assistant Professor in the Department of English, who also delivered the welcome address. She highlighted the need to prioritise women’s and mothers’ health, which she noted often takes a back seat within traditional family structures. Her address set the context for the central talk delivered by the resource person, Dr M. Nukshisangla Jamir, MD (Community Medicine), Joint Director, Nagaland State AIDS Control Society. Naga cuisine recipes Dr Jamir conducted an extensive and interactive session, addressing a wide range of health issues affecting women across different stages of life. She emphasised how women frequently deprioritise their own health while caring for their families, leading to preventable health conditions such as malnutrition, autoimmune diseases, depression, sleep disorders, and complications during and after menopause. A significant part of her presentation focused on the “1000 Days Concept”, which marks the critical window between conception and a child’s second birthday. Dr Jamir underscored that adequate nutrition and medical care during this period are essential for a child’s optimal cognitive and physical development. She advocated for at least four antenatal check-ups, initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and continued breastfeeding up to two years. Other key health topics discussed included menstrual hygiene, breast and cervical cancer awareness, obesity, diabetes—including gestational diabetes—osteoporosis, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Dr Jamir also highlighted the importance of regular breast self-examinations, safe disposal of sanitary products, the role of a balanced diet and physical activity, and healthcare services available through state-sponsored schemes such as the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme (CMHIS). The session concluded with an interactive Q&A segment, where community participants were encouraged to raise questions and share personal health concerns. The programme ended with a vote of thanks by Dr Medongunuo Ngone, Assistant Professor in the Department of English, Kohima College.With 33 participants from the local community, the awareness drive was well-received and reaffirmed Kohima College’s ongoing commitment to community engagement and the promotion of women’s health and well-being. Bridge Project hosts awareness meet on women’s health | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com |
Medical tourism: having an op overseas adds to the everyday risk of surgery (2025-06-12T12:10:00+05:30)
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Peter Leggat, James Cook University Medical tourism is the practice of travelling outside one’s home country for medical or surgical treatment. It includes dental tourism, but not wellness tourism, which usually refers to visiting spas, homeopathy treatments or traditional healing. It is a rapidly growing industry, especially in Southeast Asia, which is seeing a growth in international tourist arrivals from Australia.
An ABC report suggested more than 15,000 Australians travel abroad each year for cosmetic surgery alone. Australians are spending more than A$300 million on medical treatment overseas every year. These are probably significant underestimates, since data is not collected on outgoing travellers for the purpose of medical tourism. The Southeast Asian medical tourism industry markets cosmetic surgery, dental procedures (including implants, dentures, crowns and whitening) and other surgery such as eye, cardiac, orthopaedic and gastric bypass/banding surgery. There is also some promotion of fertility treatments, wellness checks and other medical and surgical procedures. Even local health insurance companies, such as NIB, are turning to the promotion of medical tourism packages for treatments such as cosmetic surgery and dental care. What are the risks?Even in the best of care, there is a small incidence of complications from the anaesthetic or from surgery itself. Patients need close monitoring and follow-up after the operation to minimise the consequences of such complications. Post-operative infection is a common complication and an ever-present risk. Bringing resistant strains of bacteria back home may also be a concern. There are also general travel health risks of the destination. These should be addressed during a pre-travel consultation with a general practitioner (GP) or travel clinic around six to eight weeks prior to departure. Existing medical conditions need to be stabilised well ahead of surgery, but may still produce a higher incidence of complications. After surgery, most people take some time, often weeks, to recuperate. It is hard to do this while packing for and travelling on a plane. This can put unnecessary stress on wounds and may delay healing. It may also be difficult to move around after surgery. Already present post-surgery risks, including deep venous thrombosis and thromboembolism (blood clots), increase. Another potential problem involves residual air or gas trapped in the surgical wound expanding in the lower-pressure environment of an aircraft at cruising altitude. Most airlines have specific exclusion periods following surgery and require medical clearances for travellers during the immediate post-operative period. For example, major airlines do not allow travel within 24 hours following superficial plastic surgery and require medical clearances one to four days after plastic surgery. Surgery within the eye, with the potential for air to be trapped, has a longer exclusion period from flying of one week. Medical clearances are needed from eight to 42 days after intra-ocular surgery where air may be trapped. Any surgical procedure should not be taken lightly, because of the small risk of complications. To undergo surgery away from local family support, GP follow-up and medico-legal safety nets adds another layer of risk, as do the additional travel-associated health risks. However, the medical tourism industry, including hospitals and their medical staff, is attuned to the need to be able to market an international standard for quality of care. A number of accrediting agencies now ensure minimum standards for people travelling from their home countries. The United States has the Joint Commission International and the United Kingdom the Quality Healthcare Advice Trent Accreditation. In Australia, health facilities are accredited through the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS), which does offshore accreditation on request through ACHS International. Patients falling through the follow-up cracks between having their surgery abroad and coming back home is a concern. This is particularly the case if they have a complication needing further surgery back home. Are all countries capable of performing complex surgeries?Surgeons usually specialise in some types of surgeries. Hospitals may also specialise in hosting some types of surgeries that they market to potential medical tourists. Some experimental or non-approved treatments, such as experimental stem cell or cancer treatments, may only be available overseas. However, meeting training and experience standards to perform particular types of surgical procedures is pretty much universal in countries that have a process of accreditation of hospitals and medical specialities. We don’t know whether medical tourists are preferentially seeking out accredited hospitals; however, there are 42 Joint Commission International accredited hospitals in Thailand alone. Of course, a significant driver of medical tourism is the ability to obtain access to cheaper medical care. The ABC reports a tummy tuck costs A$30,000 here and only $8,000 in Thailand. If seeking surgery abroad, key questions to ask include:
In addition, take steps to minimise your general travel health risks. Seek advice from your doctor or clinic at least six to eight weeks before travel abroad. Peter Leggat, Professor, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. |
DLAC discusses promotion of Safe Food, Healthy diet & Eat Right initiatives in district Kishtwar (2022-08-30T14:57:00+05:30)
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Madhuri Dixit is the new face of Dabur Chyawanprash (2014-01-14T10:30:00+05:30)
Dabur Chyawanprash, the iconic health care brand from the House of Dabur, earlier announced the signing of Bollywood celebrity Madhuri Dixit as its new brand ambassador. The Diva of Indian Cinema would now be seen endorsing the brand in all television, print and digital campaigns.Commenting on her association with the brand, an elated Madhuri said, “I am really excited to get an opportunity to endorse an iconic healthcare brand like Dabur Chyawanprash, which has been trusted by millions of Indians, generation after generation. With its Immunity strengthening properties, Dabur Chyawanprash protects my family from common day to day ailments.” The new campaign, featuring Madhuri Dixit, would communicate the message of providing 3-times more immunity to consumers and the role of the product in maintaining good health. A new TVC and print campaign featuring Madhuri would be launched soon. “Madhuri Dixit exemplifies the modern day Indian mother who successfully balances herprofessional and family life. While successfully managing her career on the one hand, she also is a doting mother who ensures that her kids grow up with good health. This makes her a perfect choice as the brand ambassador for Dabur Chyawanprash, a brand that promises 3 times more immunity and thereby better health all members of the family, and children in particular. With Madhuri herself being a consumer of the brand for years now, we believe she would be able to connect better well with the consumers and spread the message of building immunity for better health and well-being,” said Mr. Rajeev John, Marketing Head – Health Supplements, Dabur India Ltd. About Dabur Chyawanpras, Dabur Chyawanprash is packed with 47 potent Ayurvedic ingredients that build your immune system. It is an over 60-year-old brand for Dabur and enjoys over 65% share of the Chyawanprash market. In the 1940s, Dabur had pioneered the concept of branded Chyawanprash and since then has invested heavily in product development, clinical studies and consumer awareness. Over 128 years of Dabur’s experience in Ayurveda ensures selection, processing and quality control of right herbs along with scientific and clinical studies, making Dabur Chyawanprash a trustworthy offering for consumers. Dabur Chyawanprash does more than help boost your child’s immunity, 90% of the mothers trust Dabur Chyawanprash in protecting their kids not only from cold but from common ailments & infections (Basis: research conducted across the country amongst mothers who give Dabur Chyawanprash regularly to their kids). Dabur India Ltd is one of India’s leading FMCG Companies. Building on a legacy of quality and experience for over 125 years, Dabur is today India’s most trusted name and the world’s largest Ayurvedic and Natural Health Care Company. Dabur India's FMCG portfolio includes five flagship brands with distinct brand identities -- Dabur as the master brand for natural healthcare products, Vatika for premium hair care,Hajmola for digestives, Réal for fruit-based beverages and Fem for fairness bleaches, skin care. Source-Article, Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org
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Families USA receives $1 mln for 'successful stories' promoting Obamacare (2013-12-02T22:30:00+05:30)
The advocates of the US Health Care reform don’t give in and keep on working hard to promote Barack Obama Health Care bill. Families USA, a non-commercial organization has received one million dollar grant from the Robert Wood Foundation to create a database of successful stories from people who joined the Obamacare program.The Voice of Russia discussed this issue with Stan Veuger, a resident scholar at American Enterprise Institute (AEI). His academic research focuses on political economy and has been published in the Quarterly Journal of Economics.
Mr. Veuger writes frequently for popular audiences on a variety of topics including policy uncertainty and Obamacare. Thank you so much for joining us, Stan. How can you comment on the creation of the so-called database of successful Obamacare stories? Can it be regarded as a desperate measure considering that Obamacare enrollment members are really quite low?
By Angela Davis. Hello, how’re you doing? I don’t think that’s a fair way to put it. Families USA is an organization, it is always backed this kind of expansion of the role of the Federal government in the provision of health care. The grant they’ve received comes from another private foundation, a private foundation that focuses on health and public health issues and they are both ideologically pretty much aligned with the Administration. I don’t think it is desperate, I think it is natural for them to follow this course of action. Are Obamacare enrollment numbers fairly low from your point of view? And they are certainly stagnantly low and it is of course a huge local problem for the administration that the numbers are so low that people are actually
 having their plans cancelled and that the website and the surrounding infrastructure are still not up and running but this particular grant was issued at the beginning of October when it was not clear at all yet. Now is the reason that the enrollment numbers are low is that only because the web site is not working? Its certainly doesn’t help. I think it is certainly a major factor up until now especially giving how much attention the web site have gotten, I can see how people would think “Okay, I have until mid December, I’m just going to wait until they fix their problems”, so I think if they manage to fix it, you will certainly see enrollment take up. Another problem, of course, is that for a lot of people the news policies offered are just not that attractive, 
especially for young and healthy people who do not receive subsidies. What in your opinion is the biggest problem with Obamacare today? The biggest and the most urgent problem today is certainly the web site and how hard it is for people to enroll, I think the bigger problem in the long run is that it is another middle class entitlement program they will inevitably expand the size of government will force taxes to be raised and will take some responsibility away from people should probably try to bear themselves. What do you think about this whole project? This Families USA that’s a non-commercial organization but they received a million dollars to create a database of successful stories. Are there any successful stories? It seems a little bit early, doesn’t it? I mean, the fewer successful stories there are the more money you need to find them, right? I can see how their work would need even more funding now than so few people have enrolled. So when are these successful
Actually, these numbers are too kind. Most recent numbers show 64% want Obama-Care "Tossed into the Ash-Bin of History." To Senator Cruz, push this Bill with all your might. America is with you. Source
stories supposed to appear? I think that the kind of stories they would try to find would be people who do not receive health care from their employers, who have pre existing conditions and who are relatively old or relatively poor. They would now face relatively low premiums because of community rating regulations and they all receive relatively high subsidies because they are poor. I think that’s the target group. Is Obamacare really working? Is the program working? The low number of people that are really enrolled, does it seem to be working at least somehow for, I guess, there is a target audience that doesn’t have heath care that actually got pretty high government assistance in purchasing this Obamacare. I mean is it working for some percent of Americans? I think the group for which it is working best is the group that didn’t have heath insurance before and that now qualifies for Medicaid, which is the fully funded Federal and State government program. How many people is that? I think out of the people who have enrolled so far it is a pretty big chunk. So when they
first released the enrollment numbers I think it was the majority of the people enrolled. What is your personal attitude? Do you have Obamacare yourself, would you purchase it? I have employer provider insurance so I’m employed self-insured so I’m not directly affected by it. Have you looked at the plan that will be available to you in your current, if you didn’t have employer’s insurance? I have seen the plans available on the Washington DC exchange. A lot of them are very small networks of providers, there are certainly not very attractive. Also, I mean I am reasonably young and healthy, I wouldn’t qualify for subsidies, I don’t think the deal for me would be particularly good. So how much are you paying if you don’t have subsidies as a young healthy adult with no subsidies? That’s a good question. I would guess US$4,000 a year or something like that. What do people pay if we talk about private insurance? If you receive insurance through you, it is still private insurance, you would just buy it through Obamacare exchange. The thing is that a lot of people receive health insurance through the
 employer, get a massive tax cut in sense that employer provided health insurance is not taxed, so instead of, if your employer gives you a 100$ of health insurance, then the government takes zero dollars out of that, if the employer gives you a 100$ of salary, the Federal government will take 30$ out of that. And then with the remaining 70$ you would have to go and buy insurance for yourself. The way people receive insurance through their employers very much privileged through the existing system, so people are worse of who do not receive that and those who do not receive subsidies. When do you think Obamacare will be one year from now, two years from now or ten years from now? Would we still have it? I think a lot of it depends on the next year, so I think if the exchanges are not going to start working and the administration sees itself forced to delay the individual mandate by a year for example, I think that would be a big big blow problem for Democrats going into the Midterm elections and then after that if the Republicans win back the Senate, then it will be hard for the Administration to roll out of program as they intended. If they do that one & they keep the exchanges up but only very sick andamp; relatively old enrolled. Source Article: http://www.voiceofrussia.com, Images: brothermycroft, mshaugheysclass, daleyancy, themachoresponse, bgalrstate, randyhuntcpa, beinghappygirl, fritz-aviewfromthebeach, modernheretic3000, yastreblyansky............................................................. 
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