Nishitha Aysha Ashraf
TheNewsMinute
Bengaluru, KA, India
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Past articles by Nishitha:
TN PG and intern medicos to strike on Monday for stipend hike
A statewide strike on Monday has been called for by the Interns and Postgraduates Association of Tamil Nadu to send out a message that they need a hike in the stipend offered by the state government. The medicos are severely underpaid in the current pay scale of the Tamil Nadu government. On Monday they will stay away from work. → Read More
Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation to levy fee on doctors with private practices
It has always been a matter of convenience, familiarity and reassurance for patients in Thiruvananthapuram to approach their family doctors in a private practice setting. However, things may soon change with a trade licence fee being imposed on such doctors. Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation has come forward with a trade licence fee to be levied on all doctors who have a private practice… → Read More
Why small hospitals in Kerala are opposing the Kerala Clinical Establishments Act
The Kerala government has sought to make private hospitals display their rates for their treatments, expanding upon the Kerala Clinical Establishments Act of 2017. On Wednesday, State Health Minister K K Shylaja addressed the Assembly and stated that private hospitals would be required to display rates for treatments offered in a step to prevent exploitation of patients. The bill which was… → Read More
Dengue cases on the rise in Kerala as rains lash the state
With the monsoon season entering its third week in Kerala, the number of dengue cases is on the rise across the state. In spite of various preventive measures which the state health department has undertaken since January 2018, they have been unable to curtail the spread of the disease. Dengue outbreak in Kasaragod Kasargod District Medical Officer Dr Dinesh Kumar told TNM, “This year Kasargod… → Read More
Hepatitis outbreak in Kozhikode: 84 cases reported so far
The number of confirmed Hepatitis A cases in Thalakkulathur grama panchayat in Kozhikode district has climbed up to 84. It is expected that there will be more cases in the coming days. The Health Department has found that all those who fell ill had consumed a drink which was served at a private house warming function held at Thalakkulathur on May 12. → Read More
Cooperation is key: Three Kerala govt officials on what they learnt from tackling Nipah
The month of May was one of anxiety, fear and isolation for Kerala. What started off with the death of a young man Mohammad Sadik due to unknown causes on May 5, spiraled into an outbreak of a deadly virus in the subsequent weeks. ‘Nipah’, a word unheard of in Kerala until then, soon became one that sparked fear across the state. As the death toll rose in the following days, health professionals… → Read More
Prepare for the unexpected: Doctor who first detected Nipah in Kerala on what he learnt
The Nipah virus crisis in Kerala required many to step up to control the disease. But perhaps no one was under more pressure than the doctors and hospital staff themselves. While the non-indigenous virus caught everyone by surprise, dealing with it taught many important lessons as well. → Read More
Kerala to introduce Comprehensive Newborn Screening program to detect birth defects
A new initiative by the Kerala state government will ensure that all newborns born in public health facilities will be screened for various developmental diseases and birth defects within 48 hours of delivery. The universal Comprehensive Newborn Screening (CNS) programme will be the first of its kind to be launched in India. → Read More
Why the suicide of NEET aspirant Pradeepa is a sign of a larger problem
Pradeepa was a top scorer in her Class 10 exams in 2015 – she got 490 out of 500, and topped the Tindivanam education district in the government schools category. In Class 12, too, she scored brilliantly: A total of 1125 out of 1200. The young girl from a Dalit family had one dream: To become a doctor. On Monday, June 4, Pradeepa killed herself in the Peruvallur village in Gingee taluk of… → Read More
‘It is my duty’: This Kerala doctor performed the last rites of several victims of Nipah
When Rasil died of the Nipah Virus on May 31, there was no one to perform his last rites and bury his body. The 25-year-old’s father had passed away earlier and his mother had been kept under observation for suspected symptoms of the virus. That was when Dr RS Gopakumar stepped in. Dr Gopakumar, a member of the task force constituted on May 20 by the Kozhikode District Collector UV Jose and… → Read More
Kerala man tests positive for Kala-azar spread by sandflies, govt on alert
A 38-year-old man from Villumala tribal area near Kulathupuzha in Kollam has tested positive for Kala azar, also known as black fever. Due to severe fatigue and stomach cramps, he was initially hospitalised in Punalur Taluk hospital. Later, he was referred to the Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College Hospital (MCH). At the Regional Cancer Centre, a bone marrow test was conducted. The… → Read More
Pregnant Adivasi woman carried in bedsheet for several kms to ambulance
A pregnant Adivasi woman, who was in labour, was placed in a bedsheet, which was propped up on poles and carried on the shoulders of men for several kilometres until a vehicle could meet her to rush her to the closest hospital. This incident took place on Wednesday in Edavani Kumba ooru, one of the most remote hamlets in Kerala’s Attapadi. The tribals of the area came together to help Tanali get… → Read More
Kerala nurse strike: OPDs shut in 14 private hospitals in Thiruvananthapuram
The Outpatient Department in 14 private hospitals in Thiruvananthapuram did not function on Monday in response to the nurses’ strike called by the United Nurses Association → Read More
‘Highly dangerous phase of Nipah Virus over,’ says Kerala Health Dept
Chairing a high-level meeting on the Nipah Virus outbreak on Sunday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that there is no cause for panic as the brief Nipah Virus flare up in north Kerala has been c → Read More
Homeo pills claiming to 'prevent Nipah': 30 people fall sick in Kerala
Homeo medicines, under the pretext of being an effective medicine against Nipah Virus infection, had been distributed at Mukkam Manasshery government homeo dispensary in Kozhikode district on Friday. → Read More
Nipah Virus: Educational institutions in Kozhikode, Wayanad to remain shut
Educational institutions across Kozhikode district will remain closed until June 12, ordered Collector UV Jose on Saturday. This comes in the wake of the district being on high alert owing to a possible second wave of Nipah Virus infection. Schools in the neighbouring Wayanad district will also remain shut until June 5 following a notice by Collector S Suhas. → Read More
Nipah: Malappuram public asked to avoid crowded areas, church asks to postpone events
Malappuram District Collector Amit Meena has appealed to the public to ‘avoid shopping sprees’ and crowded areas. The statement came as a precautionary message after it came to light that 4 people were confirmed to have contracted Nipah virus in the district. → Read More
Nipah virus: 1407 people put under house quarantine in Kerala
The nipah virus has lead to 1407 people being put under quarantine in their own homes mainly in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. The state has witnessed 17 deaths in the last two weeks of whom three people have died in the last two days. Rasil, a native of Kozhikode who died on Thursday is suspected to have contracted the virus from Ismail, another Nipah victim. Ismail in turn is reported to… → Read More
Kozhikode on high alert after 3 more Nipah deaths, state wants to prevent second wave
Another death due to Nipah virus infection has been confirmed in Kozhikode, sending the entire district into high alert mode as this now points to the likelihood of a second wave of the infection. Seventeen people have lost their lives till now in the state due to the virus. → Read More
Nipah Virus: Antibody to fight infection flown in from Australia
The antibody to fight the Nipah Virus will reach India on Thursday night, Rajeev Sadanandan, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Government of Kerala, has confirmed to TNM. He added that the package from the University of Queensland will first reach Delhi, from where it will be brought to Kerala. → Read More