Close X
Wednesday, November 13, 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

Punjab CM had connived with Badals: Amarinder

Punjab CM had connived with Badals: Amarinder
Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday ridiculed present Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi for his frequent accusations that he had "connived with the Badals" and harmed Punjab's interests.

Punjab CM had connived with Badals: Amarinder

Bill to ban all cryptocurrencies to be tabled in Winter Session of Parliament

Bill to ban all cryptocurrencies to be tabled in Winter Session of Parliament
The Bill has been listed for introduction, consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha. It is among 26 new Bills, which are to be introduced in the Parliament session beginning November 29.

Bill to ban all cryptocurrencies to be tabled in Winter Session of Parliament

Farm laws repeal: Major support for MSP across the board

Farm laws repeal: Major support for MSP across the board
MSP is the price that the government declares in advance and pays at the time of procurement of crops from the farmers at the Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs), popular as Mandis. The concept is derived from the fact that the farmers should not suffer losses owing to lesser rates in the open market.

Farm laws repeal: Major support for MSP across the board

Kisan Maha Panchayat firm on demands, protests to continue

Kisan Maha Panchayat firm on demands, protests to continue
The Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella organisation of the farmers' unions, said that their protests would continue till their demands, including guarantee for minimum support price and dismissal of Union Minister Ajay Misra Teni, were met.

Kisan Maha Panchayat firm on demands, protests to continue

Farmers stir a watershed movement: Punjab CM

Farmers stir a watershed movement: Punjab CM
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Monday said the farmers' agitation against three farm laws will be always remembered as a 'watershed movement' to protect the democratic and human rights in the country.

Farmers stir a watershed movement: Punjab CM

10 Sri Lankans arrested from B'luru airport for smuggling gold

10 Sri Lankans arrested from B'luru airport for smuggling gold
The accused travelled from the Bandaranaike International Airport located in the outskirts of Colombo onboard SriLankan Airlines Flight UL 171 along with 140 other passengers.  They had concealed the liquid gold in their rectum and was supposed to be given to handlers in Bengaluru.

10 Sri Lankans arrested from B'luru airport for smuggling gold