Latest news with #Ma.Subramanian
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Primary Health Centres can be approached for hepatitis B vaccine, says TN govt
With a number of private hospitals continuing to face a shortage of Hepatitis B vaccines, the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has said that the nearest Primary Health Centre (PHC) can be approached for vaccinating children against hepatitis B as per Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) schedule. Several private hospitals across the State have been facing short supply of hepatitis B vaccines especially for vaccinating their healthcare workers and patients such as those on dialysis. A private hospital in Chennai that administers both pentavalent and hexavalent vaccines containing hepatitis B under UIP currently has adequate stock. The Health department said that there was no shortage of the vaccine in government hospitals. Health Minister Ma. Subramanian recently said that the State had a stock of 6,21,320 doses of the vaccine at present. This was adequate to meet the requirements for 8.5 months. Similarly, 5,52,100 pentavalent vaccines were also available to take care of the needs for the next 2.5 months. T. S. Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Health, reiterated that nearby PHCs can be approached for vaccinating children as per UIP schedule. A doctor, who has been closely following the hepatitis B vaccine situation, said that Hepatitis B vaccination in adults is always challenging. It was being implemented by covering key populations who have been screened and found as hepatitis negative before vaccination, he said. Open Vial Policy for hepatitis B vaccine to prevent wastage is one of the main challenges. This allows usage of an open vial for up to 28 days. 'The vaccine is administered to the targeted groups (among adults) after hepatitis B testing. In fact, the test kits are also in short supply' he said.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Scheme to grant monthly financial assistance to children affected by HIV/AIDS launched
The Health department on Tuesday launched one of its key budget announcements to grant monthly financial assistance of ₹1,000 to 7,618 children affected by HIV/AIDS for their education, medical and nutritional needs. Health Minister Ma. Subramanian, who launched the scheme at an event held to mark the World Blood Donors Day, said that during 2009-2010, former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had launched a trust fund for children affected by HIV/AIDS with a corpus of ₹5 crore. Through this, financial assistance was being provided every year for children aged below 18 years towards their education, medical and nutritional needs. This year, an announcement was made during the department's debate on the demand for grants for 2025-2026 to provide monthly assistance of ₹1,000 to children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Along with this, the department also launched 11 Red Ribbon Clubs to create awareness on HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections among college students. An announcement to create awareness of HIV/AIDS among adolescents - students of classes VIII, IX and XI in 9,830 schools in the State - was made earlier. In a step towards this, it was decided to impart life skills training to students of 100 schools. The initiative was launched in 11 schools on the occasion, a press release said.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
MNCU, ART centre, ECRC opened at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital
Health Minister Ma. Subramanian on Sunday inaugurated a Mother – Newborn Care Unit (MNCU) and an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) centre at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH). The MNCU built at a cost of ₹86 lakh has 10 beds for mothers with attached facilities for newborns. This will ensure treatment of ailing postnatal mothers or newborns within the same space, without separating them. The Minister said that the ART centre that has come up at the tertiary level government hospital at a cost of ₹16.3 lakh will help couples from poor economic backgrounds undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, which in private facilities cost ₹10 to ₹12 lakh. Already such centres have come up at the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Egmore and the Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital, Salem, he said. Mr. Subramanian said that the government, as announced earlier, has launched provision of somatrogon, a medication for growth hormone deficiency in children, at a cost of ₹13.28 crore. At a time, each beneficiary will be given the medication, which comes as a disposable injection pen, for five weeks that cost around ₹60,000. The medical will continue as prescribed by doctors. The Minister also inaugurated an Emergency Care and Recovery Centre (ECRC) at the hospital, which is a 15-bedded facility for the care and treatment of homeless persons and those who are found on streets, requiring immediate medical attention. He said 16 ECRCs are functioning across the State with the support of non-governmental organisations. He also distributed free spectacles to 50 persons aged above 50, who underwent eye check-up camps organised by the district administration in collaboration with Rotary International at Thondamuthur, Madukkarai, Negamam, Karamadai, Sarkarsamakulam, Sulthanpet, Valparai, Periyanaickenpalayam and Annur. Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department P. Senthil Kumar, Coimbatore District Collector Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar, Coimbatore MP Ganapathy P. Rajkumar, Pollachi MP K. Eswarasamy, Mayor K. Ranganayaki, Corporation Commissioner M. Sivaguru Prabakaran and CMCH Dean A. Nirmala were present. On Sunday morning, the Minister trekked to a few tribal settlements near Kovai Courtallam and got feedback from residents on the reach of Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam scheme. He also awarded degrees to medical students in the graduation ceremonies held at Coimbatore Medical College and the Government Medical College and ESI Hospital on Sunday.
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
City hospital's diabetes helpline gets more than 25,000 calls in 4 years
Kauvery Hospital's 24x7 diabetes helpline has completed a milestone of 1500 days of service since its launch in April 2021. The helpline is handled by a team of diabetes educators, physicians, dietitians, and data-monitoring experts. The helpline assists patients during hypoglycemic episodes, which happen when there is a sudden drop in blood sugar levels leading to fainting, confusion, or coma if not treated quickly, and interprets real-time Continuous Glucose Monitoring System data. Health Minister Ma. Subramanian, who attended the event on Thursday, said the free helpline service, which has received over 25,000 calls so far, is praise-worthy. Baraneedharan K., Senior Consultant Diabetologist, Kauvery Hospital, said during the 2021 COVID-19 wave, many people with diabetes could not visit hospitals, as the healthcare system was focused on managing the pandemic. To stay connected with patients during this time, Kauvery Hospital launched a free helpline, allowing people to receive free-of-cost medical guidance over the phone. Misinformation, especially through platforms like WhatsApp, can spread quickly. That is why providing access to accurate, expert advice is crucial,' Dr. Baraneedharan said. Aravindan Selvaraj, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Kauvery Group of Hospitals, said the initiative did not end with the COVID crisis; the helpline was extended beyond the pandemic as diabetes was a complex, multi-system condition requiring 24/7 attention. According to the doctors, in one case, a woman with hypoglycemia was quickly stabilised through phone guidance to take fast-acting glucose, avoiding an emergency room visit. In another, a pregnant woman with high-risk gestational diabetes, initially advised to terminate her pregnancy, was supported through continuous glucose monitoring and expert guidance via the helpline, leading to the safe delivery of healthy twins. In 2024, the helpline managed 12,541 calls, a rise from 1,223 calls in 2021. Of these, 0.89% were emergencies, predominantly hypoglycemia, which were managed through immediate telephonic support and follow-ups.
India Today
12-06-2025
- Health
- India Today
97% of Tamil Nadu's elderly have Covid-19 antibodies: What is seropositivity?
A recent serosurvey conducted in Tamil Nadu has revealed that nearly all elderly participants, around 97%, showed seropositivity for means that most of them had protective antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which indicates either they were previously exposed to the virus or received is the fifth phase of the Covid-19 serosurvey conducted by the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPH) and the State Public Health Laboratory (SPHL).advertisement The survey was carried out in April 2024 after a three-year gap, the last such study was conducted in December samples were collected from 3,643 elderly individuals across six districts: Chennai, Tiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, Tiruchi, Dharmapuri, and is a serosurvey?Serosurveys are used to detect the presence of antibodies in the blood. Most of elderly surveyed in Tamil Nadu had protective antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. () These antibodies, particularly Immunoglobulin G (IgG), develop after a person is infected with a virus or receives a antibodies are detected through blood tests, the individual is said to be "seropositive."advertisementThis helps scientists and health authorities understand how widely a disease has spread in a community, even among people who did not show symptoms or were never of 1,214 samples that were initially tested in this phase, 97% had IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2."In this situation, a non-virulent strain (of SARS-CoV-2) may not cause much impact, but it is important for persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women, immune-compromised persons, and the elderly to take precautions while visiting public places," Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma. Subramanian told reporters on Wednesday, pointing to the recent surge in new Omicron variants in is seropositivity?According to the National Cancer Institute, seropositivity generally indicates that the immune system has responded to a virus, such as SARS-CoV-2, by creating antibodies. When antibodies are detected through blood tests, the individual is said to be It does not, however, tell us how strong the immunity is or how long it will last. For that, further tests are required to assess the exact nature and strength of the immune global studies show that the effectiveness of vaccines in creating antibodies varies. A 2023 analysis found that after the third dose of Covid-19 vaccines, the rate of seropositivity ranged around 67%, and for specific high-risk groups like solid organ transplant recipients, seroconversion rates improved after booster this context, Tamil Nadu's 97% seropositivity among the elderly stands out as a reassuring InMust Watch
