COVID-19 and impairment of mental health: public health perspective

Objectives: The objective of the article is to understand the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of the members of the general population. Introduction: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has forced the public health authorities to implement unprecedented public health measures with an intention to control the spread of the infection. Methods: An extensive search of all materials related to the topic was carried out in the PubMed search engine and World Health Organization website and a total of 27 articles were selected based upon the suitability with the current review objectives. Results: In order to reduce the caseload and interrupt the chain of transmission of the novel viral infection, it was envisaged that people should stay indoors unless it is extremely essential. This intervention did play its part in reducing the caseload, but significantly affected the daily routine of the people, which in turn accounted for a significant impact on the mental health of the people. Considering the ongoing development and the impact of COVID-19 infection on the mental health of people, there is an immense need to implement strategies to improve the lifestyle of the general population and the health care professionals. Conclusion: To conclude, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has created a state of public health emergency on the global scale. The infection has impacted people from all walks of life and is also responsible for precipitating a number of psychological and mental disorders. Thus, it is the need of the hour to identify those individuals who are prone to psychological disorders, and take urgent steps to ensure the preservation and improvement of the mental health of people. Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; Mental health; Depression

Community monitoring: A strategy to watch out for

India’s National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was launched in 2005 on a nationwide scale with a vision to provide universal access to equitable, affordable and quality health care. In particular, it aims to meet the health needs of the poor and vulnerable in mostly rural areas, such as women, children and the elderly. The Mission is distinguished by in-built flexible mechanisms, so that local needs and priorities can be identified and addressed and local initiatives promoted. Central to these mechanisms is the role of community ownership and participation in management, which is seen as an important prerequisite within the NRHM. This article explores the development and use of community-based monitoring (CBM), which involves drawing in, activating, motivating and capacity building so that the community and its representatives can directly give feedback about the functioning of public health services, including input to improving planning of those services. The focus of this monitoring process is mainly on ‘fact finding’ and ‘learning lessons for improvement' rather than on ‘fault finding’. This article describes the objectives and stages of CBM and also discusses its current status and challenges. The most important reasons for the success of CBM are strong civil society engagement, the involvement of public health personnel as well as the community as principal stakeholders, adequate geographic representation and the crucial role played by the Monitoring and Planning Committees. Community-based monitoring of health services is a key strategy of the NRHM to ensure that services reach those for whom they are intended. This framework is consistent with the ‘Right to Health Care’ approach since it places health rights of the community at the centre of the process. It also seeks to address gaps in the implementation of various programs, thereby enhancing transparency down to the grassroots level. Keywords: Community, community mobilisation, community monitoring, community ownership and participation in management, health care, public healt

Mainstreaming of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy with the health care delivery system in India

AbstractIndia has a population of 1.21 billion people and there is a high degree of socio-cultural, linguistic, and demographic heterogeneity. There is a limited number of health care professionals, especially doctors, per head of population. The National Rural Health Mission has decided to mainstream the Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy (AYUSH) system of indigenous medicine to help meet the challenge of this shortage of health care professionals and to strengthen the delivery system of the health care service. Multiple interventions have been implemented to ensure a systematic merger; however, the anticipated results have not been achieved as a result of multiple challenges and barriers. To ensure the accessibility and availability of health care services to all, policy-makers need to implement strategies to facilitate the mainstreaming of the AYUSH system and to support this system with stringent monitoring mechanisms

Short communication: expanding the range of services to the survivors of Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Objectives: The objectives of the article are to assess the role of a strategic response in the prevention and control of the disease and the need for extending supports to the survivors of disease. Introduction: Since the start of the August last year, a new outbreak of Ebola virus disease has been reported in provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Methods: As of now, close to 1170 cases and 740 deaths have been attributed to the diseases due to the associated complications in the region. Results: In order to effectively respond to the outbreak, a wide range of strategies have been proposed. It is a fact that the survivors of the disease outbreak face multiple challenges, the task of organizing eye clinics to promote early detection of the problems among the survivors has been initiated. Conclusion: In conclusion, Ebola virus disease is a life threatening disease and is linked with a wide range of complications, including those involving eyes. Thus, the need of the hour is to formulate a strategic response comprising of different strategies which not only aim to reduce the incidence of the disease, but also to extend quality assured care to the survivors

Strengthening risk communication and community engagement for the containment of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 outbreak

Objectives: The objective of the article is to understand the need and importance of risk communication and community engagement in containing the COVID-19 outbreak. Introduction: The Corona Virus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, which has been designated as a public health emergency of international concern has created a sense of fear and apprehension among the community across the world. Methods: Acknowledging all these alarming facts, we cannot deny that we have to intensify our efforts and all the national policy makers should recognize the infection as of utmost public health priority and be prepared to respond to the potential outbreak within their own boundaries. Results: Based on the earlier outbreaks of the infectious diseases in the current decades, risk communication and community engagement have been identified as one of the crucial and integral elements of a successful response to the public health emergencies. Conclusion: In conclusion, risk communication and community engagement are an essential and challenging aspects of the containment of the COVID-19 outbreak and thus we have to try our best to establish a better system to ensure that risk communication is well in place and utilized effectively to engage the community

Strategies to neutralize the impact of factors that influence learning among medical students

The medical curriculum is extremely vast and continues to expand further with each day, and this makes both the process of teaching as well as the process of learning extremely challenging. Moreover, we must acknowledge that it is not an easy process for all students to learn at the same pace, as each student differs from another and has their own set of concerns, motivating factors, and inhibiting factors to influence their learning progress. The purpose of the review was to identify the factors affect learning and then propose strategies to overcome these factors. An extensive search of all materials related to the topic was carried out on the PubMed and Google Scholar search engines and a total of 44 articles were selected based upon their suitability with the current review objectives. In our vision to produce a competent medical graduate, we have to give due consideration to all the above factors, so that the learning process continues among medical students. In conclusion, the learning styles and the factors that affect learning might vary from one medical student to another. As medical educators, we should take specific steps to neutralize the impact of external factors and even assist students in the process of modifying internal factors with the solitary goal to improve learning and attain learning competencies

Exploring the dimensions of doctor-patient relationship in clinical practice in hospital settings

The Doctor-Patient Relationship (DPR) is a complex concept in the medical sociology in which patients voluntarily approach a doctor and thus become a part of a contract in which they tends to abide with the doctor’s guidance. Globally, the DPR has changed drastically over the years owing to the commercialization and privatization of the health sector. Furthermore, the dynamics of the DPR has shown a significant change because of the formulation of consumer protection acts; clauses for professional misconduct and criminal negligence; establishment of patient forums and organizations; massive expansion of the mass media sector leading to increase in health awareness among people; and changes in the status of the doctors. Realizing the importance of DPR in the final outcome and quality of life of the patient, multiple measures have been suggested to make a correct diagnosis and enhance healing. To conclude, good DPR is the crucial determinant for a better clinical outcome and satisfaction with the patients, irrespective of the socio-cultural determinant

Fostering directly observed treatment in tuberculosis: a program manager’s perspective

Global Tuberculosis (TB) report (2013) has revealed that an estimated 8.6 million people developed TB of which, India accounts for almost 26% of the cases. These estimates clearly suggest that the country’s efforts to achieve Millennium Development Goal 6 by 2015 have not delivered the desired output. In India, the TB prevention and control activities are supervised and implemented under the Revised National TB Control Program (RNTCP), which recognizes that implementation of a good quality Directly Observed Treatment with Short course chemotherapy (DOTS) is the first priority for TB control. Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) is the key element in DOTS strategy, in which a DOT provider insures and supports the patients in consuming their drugs throughout the course of treatment. In order to meet the country’s vision to achieve universal access of TB care, the RNTCP has launched a “treatment adherence scheme” (public-private partnership scheme). Further, an evidence-based integrated strategy should be formulated for addressing the identified barriers which advocates universal administration of DOT. To conclude, DOT in RNTCP insures long-term adherence to the treatment, with right drugs in right doses, at right intervals and thus plays an indispensable role in improving the outcome indicators of the program and the quality of life in patient