Diptendu Bhattacharya and Ashna Ashesh, both multi-drug resistant tuberculosis survivors and associated with Survivors Against TB, highlight the enormous burden of drug resistant TB in India and how best to deal with the challenges.
Today, antibiotics are in everything from handwash to animal food products. We pop antibiotics like candy without proper consultation from a doctor even when we suspect a viral infection like the flu and now Covid-19, even though antibiotics kill bacteria, not…
Samiksha Sivan, integrates her experience at PDMDS to talk about some of the negative emotions felt by caregivers of persons with Parkinsons and the how they can cope with the negative emotions like anger, resentment, guilt and anxiety. Dealing with a chronic, progressive condition like Parkinson’s disease (PD) can take a significant toll on a person, be it a caregiver or a patient. Being able to cope with everyday tasks at home and work as well as the stresses of caregiving for a Person with…
We all have a lot of questions on cancer prevention, how to detect cancer early and guidelines for screening. We also often ignore the needs of persons with disabilities in terms of cancer awareness campaigns and access to screening. Join us as we discuss the following topics in the webinar today Prevention is better than cure. How can we prevent cancer? How can we reduce the risk of cancer? What are the common cancers? What are the screening guidelines for lung cancer,…
For more than 7 months of the pandemic, one of the communities that has been most impacted are frontline healthcare workers and professionals. But these are not some remote group of people. They are our family members, our friends, our colleagues and us. The wellbeing of the "helping professionals" impacts all of us. Join in at 3pm IST 16th Oct 2020 as we speak with our panelists on the issues being faced and what we can all do about it. - Dr. Nilesh Gawde, Chairperson, Centre for Public…
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and PatientsEngage has planned a series of webinars on a wide ranging set of topics from fitness after breast cancer to body image to dealing with hormone therapy. Please share so that it reaches breast cancer patients and survivors. The effects of treatment of breast cancer can permanently alter a woman's relationship with her body and her self. While everyone talks of hair loss, what people don't talk about how they feel about scarred breasts,…
About one in five of suicides are of senior citizens. It is a cause for enormous concern that warrants attention from healthcare providers, policy makers, communities and us as part of the larger society, writes Samiksha Sivan. In an effort to raise awareness about suicides and suicide prevention, and destigmatize it, we observe September 10 as World Suicide Prevention Day, a concept organised by the International Association of Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health Organization (WHO…
While teleconsultation has immense benefits, it can be limiting for patients with chronic pain where a physical examination may be necessary to reach correct diagnosis, avers Dr Mary Abraham, Pain & Palliative Care Specialist. The year 2020 has been the year of the SARS Covid-19 pandemic. It has been and still is an unprecedented situation that has transformed the lives of people all over the world. Besides the physical suffering it has inflicted, it has also affected the emotional, social…
Nilanjana Maulik talks about the challenges faced by persons with dementia and their family caregivers during Covid-19 times and how ARDSI has supported these families remotely. She is National Coordinator - Working Group ARDSI (Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Society of India) and Secretary, ARDSI Calcutta. How do you think the disruption in the day care centres during the ongoing Pandemic has affected persons with dementia ? Can you give a few examples? The COVID-19 pandemic is a huge…
On World Suicide Prevention Day, Sunitha Ramachandran, senior volunteer and mentor in Samaritans Mumbai, a suicide prevention helpline, gives us a gamut of vital information on how to recognise and prevent suicidal thoughts and acts and seek timely help to save lives. Could you tell us a little bit about the work being done by Samaritans Mumbai? Samaritans Mumbai offers emotional support for those who may be stressed, distressed or even suicidal. Our helpline is available via both phone and…
