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 stops unscheduled, interacts with auto-rickshaw drivers

Punjab CM stops unscheduled, interacts with auto-rickshaw drivers
Auto-rickshaw drivers in Punjab's industrial town Ludhiana on Monday received an unusual guest in the form of Chief Minister Charanjit Channi, who halted unscheduled on his way to the grain market to listen to their problems.

Punjab CM stops unscheduled, interacts with auto-rickshaw drivers

Repeal of farm laws - a bold move

Repeal of farm laws - a bold move
The Indian Prime Minister has always put the nation's unity and integrity above all other considerations, and perhaps therefore chose not to give any handle to vested interests, particularly Pakistan sponsored and funded elements, to create divisions and instability in Indian society, and especially among Sikhs.

Repeal of farm laws - a bold move

Punjab CM fixes monthly cable TV rate at Rs 100

Punjab CM fixes monthly cable TV rate at Rs 100
Addressing a public gathering here, Channi categorically said people are being unnecessarily harassed by the cable mafia by levying hefty charges which would not be tolerated anymore in future.

Punjab CM fixes monthly cable TV rate at Rs 100

Sidhu is creating unwarranted fears in minds of farmers: BJP

Sidhu is creating unwarranted fears in minds of farmers: BJP
Hitting out at Navjot Singh Sidhu, the BJP on Monday said that Punjab Congress chief is creating unwarranted fears in the minds of farmers by suggesting that the Centre had plans to do away with the MSP system.

Sidhu is creating unwarranted fears in minds of farmers: BJP

PM Modi Repeals The 3 Contentious Farm Laws, Ahead Of Key State Elections

PM Modi Repeals The 3 Contentious Farm Laws, Ahead Of Key State Elections
After literally turning a deaf ear to the farmers’ issues for over a year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, November 19, 2021, in a dramatic move, announced the withdrawal of the three controversial farm laws, which were at the heart of the farmers’ protests across the country.

PM Modi Repeals The 3 Contentious Farm Laws, Ahead Of Key State Elections

Glad controversial farm laws being repealed: British MP

Glad controversial farm laws being repealed: British MP
Earlier, Dhesi sent a letter, signed by over 100 British MPs and Lords, to Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the ongoing farmers' protests, asking him to raise this matter with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi when they next liaise.

Glad controversial farm laws being repealed: British MP