Aatmanirbhar Health Scheme

दूसरे देशों से आने वाले मंकीपॉक्स के मामलों की बढ़ती संख्या को देखते हुए केंद्रीय स्वास्थ्य मंत्रालय ने मंगलवार को 'मंकीपॉक्स रोग के प्रबंधन पर दिशानिर्देश' जारी किए। मंकीपॉक्स के प्रबंधन और देशभर में अग्रिम तैयारी सुनिश्चित करने के लिए एक सक्रिय और जोखिम-आधारित दृष्टिकोण के हिस्से के रूप में दिशानिर्देश जारी किए गए हैं। हालांकि, मंत्रालय ने पुष्टि की कि आज तक भारत से मंकीपॉक्स का कोई मामला सामने नहीं आया है। मंकीपॉक्स एक ऑर्थोपॉक्सवायरस परिवार का हिस्सा है, जिसमें चेचक के वायरस भी शामिल हैं। चेचक का वायरस अब भारत में खत्म हो चुका है। यह यूके और यूरोप में हो सकता है। प्रमुख विशेषज्ञों ने इसको लेकर चेतावनी दी है, क्योंकि आमतौर पर अफ्रीका के क्षेत्रों तक सीमित रहने वाला यह वायरस अब दुनियाभर में फैल रहा है। पिछले शुक्रवार को विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन की एक रिपोर्ट में कहा गया था कि मंकीपॉक्स वायरस 20 से अधिक देशों में फैल गया है, लगभग 200 पुष्ट मामले और 100 से अधिक संदिग्ध मामले उन देशों में हैं, जहां यह आमतौर पर नहीं पाया जाता। स्वास्थ्य मंत्रालय द्वारा जारी दिशा-निर्देशों के अनुसार, पोलीमरेज चेन रिएक्शन (पीसीआर) और/या सीक्वेंसिंग द्वारा वायरल डीएनए के अनूठे अनुक्रमों का पता लगाकर मंकीपॉक्स वायरस के मामले की पुष्टि की जाती है। जांच के लिए नमूनों को संबंधित जिले या राज्य के एकीकृत रोग निगरानी कार्यक्रम (आईडीएसपी) नेटवर्क के माध्यम से आईसीएमआर-एनआईवी (पुणे) की शीर्ष प्रयोगशाला में ले जाया जाता है। दिशानिर्देशों में इस रोग की जटिलता, निदान, केस प्रबंधन, जोखिम संचार, संक्रमण रोकथाम और नियंत्रण (आईपीसी) पर मार्गदर्शन और व्यक्तिगत सुरक्षा उपकरणों के उपयोग के बारे में बताया गया है। दिशानिर्देश निगरानी और नए मामलों की तेजी से पहचान पर जोर देते हैं और प्रकोप की रोकथाम के लिए प्रमुख सार्वजनिक स्वास्थ्य उपायों के रूप में मानव-से-मानव में फैलने के जोखिम को कम करने की जरूरत बताते हैं। यह आईपीसी उपायों, घर पर आईपीसी, रोगी का आइसोलेशन और एम्बुलेंस स्थानांतरण रणनीतियों, अतिरिक्त सावधानियों का ध्यान रखने की जरूरत और आइसोलेशन प्रक्रियाओं की अवधि के बारे में भी बताता है। दिशानिर्देशों के अनुसार, संक्रामक अवधि के दौरान किसी रोगी के संपर्क में आने से 21 दिनों की अवधि में लक्षणों की शुरुआत हो सकती है, इसलिए संपर्को की निगरानी की जानी चाहिए। दिशानिर्देश मंकीपॉक्स वायरस के उपायों के बारे में जागरूकता बढ़ाने और लोगों को शिक्षित करने के बारे में विस्तार से बताते हैं, जैसे बीमार व्यक्ति के संपर्क से बचना, संक्रमित रोगी को अलग करना, हाथ की अच्छी स्वच्छता का अभ्यास करना और रोगियों की देखभाल करते समय उचित व्यक्तिगत सुरक्षा उपकरण (पीपीई) का उपयोग करना। यह भी पढ़े► फल और सब्जियां करती हैं बच्चों की एडीएचडी से लड़ने में मदद

In view of the increasing number of Monkeypox cases being reported from the non-endemic countries, the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday issued 'Guidelines on Management of Monkeypox Disease'. The guidelines have been issued as part of a proactive and risk-based approach for management of Monkeypox and to ensure advance preparedness across the country. However, the ministry confirmed that no case of Monkeypox has been reported from India as on date. Monkeypox is an orthopoxvirus, a family that includes the now eradicated smallpox virus. It may now be endemic in the UK and Europe, leading experts have warned, as the virus normally confined to areas of Africa continues to spread around the world. Last Friday, a World Health Organization report had said that the virus has spread to more than 20 countries, with about 200 confirmed cases and over 100 suspected cases in nations where it is typically not found. As per the guidelines issued by the Health Ministry, a confirmed case is laboratory confirmed for Monkeypox virus by detection of unique sequences of viral DNA, either by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and/or sequencing. All the clinical specimens should be transported to the apex laboratory of ICMR-NIV (Pune) routed through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) network of the respective district or state. The guidelines include epidemiology of the disease including host, incubation period, period of communicability and mode of transmission; contact and case definitions; clinical features and its complication, diagnosis, case management, risk communication, guidance on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and use of personal protective equipment. The guidelines stress on surveillance and rapid identification of new cases as the key public health measures for outbreak containment, mandating the need to reduce the risk of human-to-human transmission. It also explains the IPC measures, IPC at home, patient isolation and ambulance transfer strategies, additional precautions that needs to be taken care of and duration of isolation procedures. As per the guidelines, contacts should be monitored at least daily for the onset of symptoms for a period of 21 days from the last contact with a patient or their contaminated materials during the infectious period. The guidelines explain in detail about raising awareness and educating people about the measures for Monkeypox virus like avoiding contact with any material of the sick person, isolation of infected patient, practising good hand hygiene and using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when caring for patients. Read More► Type 2 Diabetes Accelerates Brain Ageing, Cognitive Decline

If you believe that applying sunscreen will protect your skin from the harsh rays of the sun this summer, think again. Your eyes, too, require attention. UV rays are not only harmful to the skin, but they can also harm the eyes. "UV exposure has been linked to the development of macular degeneration, cataracts, and other vision-loss problems," says Dr Danish Iqbal, Senior Consultant, Sharp Sight Eye Hospitals. If you have an existing eye condition, such as macular degeneration or cataracts, he recommends that you protect your eyes from the sun as much as possible during the summer. Dr. Danish shares some simple tips that will protect your eyes in summer. Wear Sunglasses Use 100 per cent Ultraviolet (UV) protection sunglasses. The harsh UV rays can damage your eye lens, cornea and even retina. So whenever you head out, make sure you put on your shades. Splash Clean Water In The Eyes Your eyes are stressed throughout the day due to severe heat and exposure to the sun. Rinse your eye by splashing cold water on them periodically and drinking a lot of water. This will keep your eyes from becoming dry or puffy. Do Eye Exercises Eye exercises help us to reduce tiredness and improve the eye muscles. Exercising your eyes daily also improves your eyesight and reduces the risk of contracting diseases and infections. Use Cucumber Slices If you are suffering from red eyes in summer, apply slices of cucumber on your eyelids for 10 minutes before you sleep. Cucumber also helps remove tan from under the eyes and absorbs extra moisture. Nourish It With Eye Drops It's always better to use some kind of eye drops to minimize pain or manage other eye problems. However, you should also consult a qualified ophthalmologist before choosing your eye drops. Increase Intake of Green Leafy Vegetables In the summer season, increase the intake of green leafy vegetables as they are rich in both lutein and zeaxanthin and are also a good source of eye-friendly vitamin C. Well-known leafy greens include spinach, kale, collards etc. Sleep Well Your eyes heal themselves as you sleep. Insufficient sleep can lead to dry, itchy, or bloodshot eyes. Lack of proper sleep at night leads to fewer tears in the eye and it may open the door to eye infections. Read More► 5 Rules for Healthy Body and Mind

The pandemic is largely responsible for advocating the idea of proper intake of Vitamin C, known as an important immune-support nutrient and vital in helping the body protect itself from severe viral illnesses. But how much is the right amount needed for the body? Research at New University of Otago, Christchurch in New Zealand has identified, for the first time, exactly how much extra Vitamin C humans need to ingest, relative to their body weight, to maximise their immune health. Vitamin C is known to be essential for good immune function and works by helping white blood cells fight infection. The study, published in the international journal Nutrients, found that for every 10 kg of excess weight a person carries, their body needs an extra 10 milligrams of Vitamin C daily, which will help to optimise their immune health. "Previous studies have already linked higher body weight with lower Vitamin C levels," said lead author Associate Professor Anitra Carr from the University's Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science. "But this is the first study to estimate how much extra daily Vitamin C is actually needed for people, relative to their body weight, to help maximise their health," she added. Carr suggested the findings could potentially help heavier people better protect themselves from such illnesses because obesity is a known risk factor for Covid. Obese people can also be at increased risk of severe illness due to the infection. The results from this study therefore suggest that increasing your Vitamin C intake if overweight might be a sensible response, Carr said. Another major complication of Covid-19 is pneumonia. Patients with pneumonia are known to be low in Vitamin C. Several research has shown that "Vitamin C decreases the likelihood of people getting pneumonia and decreases the severity of it, so finding the right levels of Vitamin C to take if you are overweight may help to better support your immune system", Carr said. The study determined that someone weighing 90 kg would need to take an extra 30 milligrams of Vitamin C to achieve the optimal goal of 140mg/day; while someone weighing 120 kilograms would need at least an extra 40 milligrams of vitamin C daily to achieve the optimal 150mg/day. The easiest way to increase daily Vitamin C intake is by upping the consumption of Vitamin C-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables or by taking a Vitamin C supplement, Carr said. Read More► Breakfast Mistakes You Should Avoid