CHANDIGARH,*03-03-2025*

10th International Course on Public Health Approaches to NCDs begins at PGIMER, Chandigarh.
PGIMER, Chandigarh is conducting the 10th International course on Public health approaches to Non Communicable Diseases and 10th International CME from 3-8th March, 2025 in collaboration with World NCD Federation, AIIMS, New Delhi and NINE. It is being attended by participants from different backgrounds including programme managers, policy makers, faculty and residents.
Prof. JS Thakur, President, World NCD Federation and Course Coordinator informed about course objectives and expected outcome. He mentioned that the focus of this course would be to enable participants to use public health approaches such as policies, legislations, guidelines for NCD prevention and control.
Prof. RK Ratho, Dean PGI welcomed dignitaries on behalf of institute. He appreciated interinstitutional collaboration for national health development and partnership for the course. He stated that it is commendable that PGI has provided a platform to network to fight against the epidemic of NCDs. This course will help in building capacity and strengthening the quality research to combat NCDs via public health approaches.
Shri Kumar Rahul, IAS, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, Chief Guest of the inaugural function highlighted the need for such initiatives for capacity building for program managers for effective implementation of NCD program in the country. He shared key initiatives in Punjab which included IHCI- India Hypertension Control Initiative in which a major finding is that the 62% of patients have been reported with control of BP during FY 2021-22 and Punjab has been awarded UN award for improving Hypertension control at Primary level.
Dr. Shankar Prinja discussed on the issue of socioeconomic impact of NCDs, affecting the development of a nation. The sessions were followed by a practical in which assignment was shared with the participants followed by discussion on findings.
The second module was on Global, Regional and National Initiatives. Dr Yutaro Setoya discussed on the significance of mainstreaming of mental health services in NCD programs particularly in the low- and middle-income countries. Dr Abhishek Kunwar, NPO, NCD WHO and spoke on the Regional Initiatives for prevention and control of NCDs. He highlighted the initiatives being undertaken by WHO and shared the experience initiatives for the control the rising burden of hypertension and diabetes. Dr L Swasticahran, Additional DDG, NCD, MoHFW shared the National initiatives for the prevention and control of NCDs. He shared the evolution of the National Program for Prevention and Control of NCDs and the activities being undertaken, he also shared how the horizon has been broadened to add more diseases to the program and that one program is responsible for multiple diseases.
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World hearing day, a global healthcare event was celebrated on 3rd March 2025 at PGI Satellite Centre, SANGRUR.
This year’s theme- ‘Changing mindsets- Empower yourself- to make ear and Hearing care a reality for all.’ was explained .
Hearing loss is prevalent healthcare problem and impacts lives of people of all age groups. According to WHO >1.5 billion people live with hearing loss worldwide and out of which 430 million people are estimated to have disabling hearing loss.
According to research published in Lancet, Hearing loss was ranked 3rd Most common cause of years lived with disability in Global Burden of Diseases (GBD). Moreover hearing impairment is ranked Ist among sensory disorders.
GBD estimates 83% unmet need for hearing assistive devices globally.
Tinnitus alongwith hearing loss increases mental distress and decreases quality of life of patients and these instances are less captured and true burden of disease may be higher than reported.
The collabarative effort between the Dept of Ent & Head Neck Surgery (Dr Gurkiran Kaur, Assistant Professor; Dr Tushar, Junior Resident ) and Dept of Community Medicine (Dr Harashish Jindal) provided a well rounded approach to the event.
Interactive poster displays, Rangoli , and skit presentations were done to engage people and spread the awareness regarding causes of hearing loss, identifying preventable causes, early Diagnosis and intervention with options of Rehabilitation measures were explained.