Close X
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
ADVT 
India

India joins global movement to raise awareness on Neglected Tropical Diseases

Darpan News Desk IANS, 01 Feb, 2022 12:30 PM
  • India joins global movement to raise awareness on Neglected Tropical Diseases

New Delhi, Jan 31 (IANS) Observing the 3rd World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day as a key moment to highlight the global community's commitment to ending these, India joined close to 40 other nations to illuminate iconic landmarks to raise awareness.

This year, India lit up the New Delhi Railway Station in purple and orange hues to mark the occasion.

At a virtual event organised by National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) to observe World NTD Day, Joint Secretary, Health, Dr Harmeet Singh Grewal, said that the aim of illuminating the iconic New Delhi Railway Station was to generate awareness about NTDs in the visiting public and showcase progress and achievements towards their elimination.

Emphasising on creating a people's movement to eliminate the NTDs, he said: "There is a need for a behavioural change. We must fight it together and engage school children, social workers, activists etc. to create a mass movement to elimination NTDs."

NTDs are caused mostly by a variety of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and toxins which affect over 1.7 billion people globally. They are called 'neglected' because they are almost absent from the global health agenda of the developed countries and are associated with stigma and social exclusion.

Lauding India's efforts towards eliminating these diseases, NCVBDC Director, Dr Tanu Jain, said: "Most people don't know about NTDs because these diseases effect the poor and marginalised communities. We need to elevate messaging about NTDs and highlight the positive, ambitious, and winnable NTD goals by focusing on the NTD elimination target. This would happen through close coordination between all stakeholders."

In Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Karnataka too, iconic landmarks and monuments were illuminated as part of their commitment to eliminate NTDs. In Jharkhand, the renowned Rajendra Circle in Ranchi and Clock Tower in Godda district were lit up in pink and orange colours. The office building of the Department of Health and Family Welfare in Bengaluru was also illuminated to mark the occasion.

MORE India ARTICLES

Farmers blasts govt's attempt to 'divide' unions, say way forward decision on Dec 4

Farmers blasts govt's attempt to 'divide' unions, say way forward decision on Dec 4
Stating that the BJP government should stop attempting to divide farmers even at this stage - two days after the three farm laws were repealed in the Parliament, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha on Wednesday on condemned the government's statement that it does not have data about farmers' death.

Farmers blasts govt's attempt to 'divide' unions, say way forward decision on Dec 4

Bhopal gas tragedy: A careless UCIL, but healthcare system during Covid still overburdened

Bhopal gas tragedy: A careless UCIL, but healthcare system during Covid still overburdened
Leaked toxic Methyl IsoCyanate (MIC) gas from the Union Carbide of India Ltd (UCIL) factory started affecting the residents of Madhya Pradesh capital city Bhopal, especially those residing in the southeast direction from the factory, around 2 a.m. on the intervening night of December 2 and 3 in 1984. 

Bhopal gas tragedy: A careless UCIL, but healthcare system during Covid still overburdened

Monitoring Omicron situation, decision on int'l flights soon: Govt

Monitoring Omicron situation, decision on int'l flights soon: Govt
The Indian government, before taking any final decision on the resumption of international flight operations, is "closely monitoring" the situation emerging out of the detection and spread of coronavirus' Omicron variant.

Monitoring Omicron situation, decision on int'l flights soon: Govt

Why is India not banning int'l flights, Kejriwal asks PM

Why is India not banning int'l flights, Kejriwal asks PM
On Sunday, Kejriwal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to stop international flights from regions witnessing a rise in Covid-19 cases. Meanwhile, Delhi government-run Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital has been designated to treat patients testing positive for the new Covid-19 variant Omicron.

Why is India not banning int'l flights, Kejriwal asks PM

Gold seized from seat pocket of flight at Hyderabad Airport

Gold seized from seat pocket of flight at Hyderabad Airport
Customs officials at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here seized 472.8 grams gold in paste form from seat pockets of a flight that arrived from Guwahati. Acting on specific intelligence, Customs sleuths recovered in gold paste form worth Rs. 23.33 lakh.

Gold seized from seat pocket of flight at Hyderabad Airport

Accept proposal for waiver of farmers' debt: Channi writes to Modi

Accept proposal for waiver of farmers' debt: Channi writes to Modi
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Tuesday exhorted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to accept his proposal for complete waiver of farmers and farm labourers' debt, adding the state is ready to take over its share of debt burden along with the government of India.

Accept proposal for waiver of farmers' debt: Channi writes to Modi