New Delhi: As part of the ‘Illness to Wellness’ campaign, the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM), an apex industry body, hosted a webinar on ‘Managing Eye Care’; this also coincides with the month of February being observed as Low Vision Awareness Month. The main objective behind organizing was to create awareness on how to prevent low vision problems, eye related critical diseases and blindness and maintain overall healthy vision for life.

Throwing light on the rising issue of low vision in India, (Padma Shri) Dr. (Prof) A. K. Grover, Chairman, Vision Eye Centres & Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said that the process of seeing is a gift of nature and the most structural and functional marvel organ in the body. He added, “The human eye has a resolution of 375-mega pixels. It’s a natural camera with a peripheral vision and it transfers the message to the brain to figure out the colours, movements etc.”

He went on to say that the cataract is the most common cause of blindness in India, and that diabetes is to be blamed for the massive number of damaged eyes. Other causes are corneal opacities, cataract surgical complications (including PCO), diseases of retina and glaucoma. The data shows that even though the rate of blindness has decreased through sustained efforts through the National Program for Control of Blindness (NPCB) have decreased the prevalence of blindness, a whole lot more needs to be done.  “In India, one out of every 50 people over the age of 50 is blind,” he said, adding that the government has made ongoing efforts in collaboration with non-government organisations, but primary eye-care in rural areas remains a challenge. To maintain perfect eye vision, a person should consume antioxidants, fruits, and vegetables, eat a balanced diet, and exercise.

Shri Anil Rajput, Chairperson, ASSOCHAM CSR Council, in his welcome address, said, “Good vision contributes to our improved physical abilities, learning and comprehension skills and a better quality of life. Therefore, keeping an eye on your vision health is undoubtedly an essential component of good health and overall wellness.’’

Highlighting the ill effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the eyes of the children, he said, “The switch to digital learning over the last two years has led to young students staying indoors and spending longer hours in front of their TVs, IPads and mobiles. Therefore, having a balanced diet, along with adequate lighting in the room while studying, correct sitting posture, controlled screen time and regular eye exercises are key points to be kept in mind for maintaining healthy eyes among children.”

Please watch: Computer Vision Syndrome

Diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions in India due to sedentary lifestyle, according to Dr. Subina Narang, Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Government Medical College, Chandigarh. All diabetics should have regular eye exams every 3-6 months, as directed by an ophthalmologist, in order to diagnose and treat this disease before any visual loss occurs. At the time of their diabetes diagnosis, approximately 27% of patients have retinopathy. She added that a 15-minute break for eye rest can be taken after 45 minutes of reading activity.

Dr. Reena M Choudhry, Director, (Sankara Nethralaya) Glaucoma Services, Senior Consultant Glaucoma and Cataract Services & Chief Operating Officer, ICARE Eye Hospital and PG Institute, Noida, motivated the audience with an eye organ transplant theory and how it works. People can reach out to the nearest national helpline of Eye Bank Association of India after the demise and can donate the eyes that can help two people at once, she added.

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• India has achieved over 100 cr. vaccinations but still, only 38% of the population has achieved full vaccination
• Major emphasis to be put on the frontline workers and the vulnerable population like elderly persons and children

The Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the apex association of the country, to create awareness and understanding about the Booster dose to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and its effect on people’s health and welfare, organized a webinar on ‘Booster Dose for Covid-19’ under the ‘Illness to wellness’ campaign at New Delhi recently.

The COVID-19 Pandemic has affected the nation, unlike any other epidemic, with different variants still mutating and transferring it becomes important for us to look for the mitigating strategies for the huge population of India, The webinar started with a cheerful note of being ‘Careful not Fearful’, and according to WHO most developed countries have administered two doses per person as well, but the requirement of booster dose is imperative due to the rising fear of the third wave.

Commenting on the growing concerns Chairman of ASSOCHAM CSR Council, Shri Anil Rajput said, “the new variant ‘Omicron’ has more mutations and a higher rate of transmissibility therefore it is important to increase the pace of vaccination and a need for a booster dose.” “While we must be wary of not over vaccinating, optimally utilizing surplus vaccines by administration it to people with comorbidities and front-line workers needs to considered”, he added.

Highlighting the Importance of Vaccination, Dr. Gautam Bhansali, Practicing physician and consultant, Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences said, Different variants are still coming out and countries like The US and UK are still recovering from the impact, booster doses are important as they reduce the severity of the impact and therefore even if the virus is contracted there would not be a need for hospitalization, 74% of the people in Mumbai are fully vaccinated and people who are left out is only because of the gap between the two doses and there is the need to reduce the gap by the government, The vaccine administration would also depend on the individual immunity and efficacy of the previous vaccines.

Commenting on the severity of the new variant Dr.P. Venkata Krishnan, Sr. Consultant, Internal Medicine Artemis Hospital said, “there is a need to administer the booster shot as the 1st dose introduces the body to the infection and then timely doses are required so that the body is able to identify the infection effectively and produce the desired antigens the effect of the dose then increases and the ill effects decrease it is like teaching a lesson to a kid, it is like a memory but for the infection, it is important as the virus has the potential to mutate, there is a requirement to administer the frontline workers as they are at the biggest risk.

The panel also shed light in the timely administration of the vaccine, which is 6 months according to the FDA in the USA, as it was pointed out by the specialists that people may contract the 2nd infection even after being vaccinated as the number of antigens in the body decrease as the time gap between the doses increases, the FDA has also suggested that people above 18 years of age should get the booster after 6 months have gone by. The panel also discussed the vaccine hesitancy that was prevalent amongst the people, the panelists suggested a few withdrawal measures like restrictions to entry in public places like malls and public transport instead of punishments, for this Delhi government, has launched the “Har-Ghar Dastak” campaign for people who cannot reach the center such as the elderly and persons with disability. The panelists also discussed that children above 12 years of age be immediately vaccinated as it has a psychological bearing on their mental wellness.

Initiating the panel discussion Dr. Rajesh Kesari, Founder, and Director Total Care Control shared, a Shlok from the Charaka samhita that says that good health is a prerequisite to attaining Dharma and Moksha. Vaccines are now very easily available, and it is important as it creates antigens that act like soldiers in our body. With new cases spreading fast there is a need to vaccinate the frontline workers and people with comorbidities and vulnerable populations as they stand to lose out the most.

The panelists were unanimous in their praise for ASSOCHAM India for organizing this highly significant and timely webinar. They have agreed to the rising concern with the new variant Omicron discovered in a lab in South Africa, there was an emphasis on following the foundational basics of SMSV i.e., social distancing, masks, sanitization, and finally vaccination, as the COVID-19 is now like any other common flu and was here to stay.

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• As per NACO data, states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu rank very high in voluntary blood donations
• Speakers highlight lack of clarity about the inclusion of thalassemia patients in the Rights of a Person with Disability Bill, 2016
• Government is analysing reasons for gap in voluntary blood donations in many states.

New Delhi, 4 December, 2020: The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), one of the apex trade associations of India concluded the twelfth edition of the ‘Illness to Wellness’ series themed Importance of Blood Donation & Managing Wellness of People with Thalassemia on the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The event saw an expert panel of Thalassemia specialists hold an informative dialogue on hindrances faced by Thalassemia patients and blood centers during COVID-19, inclusion of Thalassemia in the Disabilities Act, 2016 and blood donation awareness in India.

Supported by the hygiene brand SAVLON, the program which promotes healthy living with a focus on wellness and preventive health through healthy habits, diet, exercise, and holistic health saw the veteran speakers discuss at lengththe distress blood centers faced due to lack of donors during the lockdown.

Commenting on the efforts made by authorities to encourage blood donations during the lockdown,Dr. Sunil Gupta, Addl. DGHS, NACO and Director (National Blood Transfusion Council) said, “The scare that was initially present in the minds of the staff at the blood center was removed through proper sanitization measures, social distancing and methodical way of blood collection via prior appointments. Donors initially faced movement restrictions, for which certificates were issued for them. We also had more than 30 mobile blood collection vans to reach out to communities and societies. By end of July there was a significant improvement in blood collection from the bleak scenario in March end and April. Now our collection is almost close to that of pre-COVID times.”

He also emphasized on the need to change mindsets through awareness about voluntary donation of blood. “As per data of NACO, currently, 70% of blood donations are voluntary. Some states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu are particularly very active in voluntary blood donations. At the same time, some states are lagging and there is a huge gap. We are trying to analyze why this gap exists in the same country and have realized that it has to do with the prevailing culture of the state and the mindset of the population. There is a need to change mindsets,” he said.

Dr. Amita Mahajan, Senior Consultant Pediatric Hematology & Oncology Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi elaborating on overcoming hindrances faced by hospitals and blood centres during COVID lockdown said, “The pandemic has been both a challenge and a unique opportunity to look for productive pathways. We have been able to come up with solutions that will be present with us beyond the pandemic. During the pandemic, patients were scared to come to the hospital and donors were also scared of contracting COVID from hospitals. It was also not possible to hold blood donation camps as maintaining social distance would become difficult. To resolve these, at the hospital we made separate entries and exits for voluntary donors. We issued special movement passes to donors and reached out to previous donors and assured them of safety during donation.”

Highlighting the need for sensitizing people about voluntary blood donations and how it helps patients of blood disorders, Mr. Anil Rajput, Chairman, ASSOCHAM CSR Council, said “There are multiple challenges being faced by thalassemic patients in the wake of this pandemic. Considering the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need to sensitize the importance of voluntary blood donation which can help patients suffering from blood disorders as well as in emergency cases. In our country, 2 million people suffer from thalassemia and many other disabilities. Blood donation and transfusion are crucial to the essential services especially for these patients.”

Stressing on the lack of awareness of thalassemia and clarity on the inclusion of its patients in the list of disabilities under The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, Mr. Deepak Chopra, Founder & President, Thalassemics India, said, “The primary reason why Thalassemia patients have not received enough benefits from the act is due to inadequate awareness. When the act unfolds itself, only then will those who are supposed to get benefits from it can knock at the right doors. We are yet to understand the provisions of the act so there is a need to delvemore. There are not many interfaces known to patients as to how and to whom they should present their issues. As far as the act is concerned, it is yet to reach out to patients.”

Dr. Pawan Kumar Singh, Head of Oncology, Organ Transplant, Hematology, Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant department, Artemis Hospitals, Shri Rajesh Mittal, Founder & Chairman, Alamak Capital Advisors, CSR Chair (2020-21), Rotary District 3011, Mr. George Constantinou, Thalassemia Patient &Board Member, Thalassemia International Federation, Mr. ChethanManchegowda, Founder, Khoon, and Ms. Anubha Taneja Mukherjee, Legal & Policy Advocacy Professional; Member Secretary, Thalassemia, Patients Advocacy Group (TPAG), were other distinguished speakers and panelists were present who significantly reiterated on the substantial need of volunteer blood donation to manage wellness of people with Thalassemia.

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• Fake claims of Type 1 diabetes reversal, which is specially found in children have often led to death.
• A controlled life with proper checks and measures in place for a diabetic can ensure that he lives long and healthy.
• Diabetes reversal can only be possible in early diagnosis of the condition in pre-complications stage and can take place with continual treatment and diet checks.

New Delhi, 28 November 2020: The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), one of the apex trade associations of India concluded the eleventh edition of the ‘Illness to Wellness’ series themed Diabetes Reversal: ‘Myth or Reality’ with eminent diabetologist Dr. V Mohan, Chairman and Chief Diabetologist, Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialties Centre.

The expert in conversation with Shri Anil Rajput, Chairman, ASSOCHAM CSR Council and moderator Dr. Rajesh Kesari, Founder and Director, Total Care Control, discussed at length the reality of diabetes reversal and how it can be achieved. The programme which promotes healthy living with focus on wellness and preventive health through healthy habits, diet, exercise, and holistic health saw the veteran speaker highlight on the issue of false claims of diabetes reversals being made by quacks and fake messages to allure vulnerable patients and their families.

Speaking on the fatal results of trusting fake claims, Padma Shri Dr. V Mohan, Chairman and Chief Diabetologist, Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialties Centre warned that there are certain types of diabetes that cannot be reversed. “Type 1 diabetes affects children largely with zero production of insulinin  the body and needs to be treated continuously to be kept alive. One must keep in mind that there is no reversal of Type 1 diabetes, so if any quack tells you that I can reverse Type 1 diabetes, please don’t listen to them. Deaths have occurred when families have gone ahead with alternative medicines to treat Type 1 medicines and the child died. This is a form of murder. When you know that there is no cure and you are still promising a cure and killing a child in the process,” he said.

Sharing the reality of diabetes reversal, he explained that it is only possible with early diagnosis of diabetes in the pre-complications stage and can take place with continual treatment and diet checks. While a patient at a stage, may be able to make his diabetes condition better through exercising and dieting, once he or she stops, the condition may go back to its previous levels.

“In diabetes we do not use the term cure, even reversal is not the correct term because once you reverse a situation, it should not resurface, but in diabetes, if patients are not cautious, it can resurface. We can only call it a remission. In remission, it hides behind a curtain and if you allow it, it will surface again. People need to understand the difference between reversal and remission,” he said.

Dr. Mohan also shared a few mantras to live by to have a long and healthy life with diabetes. This included detecting diabetes early, keeping blood sugar, blood pressure and lipids under control, observe strict restrictions for first 10 years of diagnosis, exercise regularly with balanced diet and visit doctors 3-4 times in a year. He further added that being diabetic does not necessarily mean a life cut short, rather, if handled well, patients can live long and healthy with precautions and measures in place.

Commenting on the temporary nature of fad diets which are often recommended for weight loss to diabetics, Shri Anil Rajput, Chairman, ASSOCHAM CSR Council said, “We must consistently strive to incorporate balanced diets and not go for drastic weight reducing diets as they are not feasible in long run. Consume all your meals in moderation and exercise. One can also opt for special grains’ flour that are available in the market to get a healthy carbohydrate composition. Another good takeaway from the webinar is the issue of choosing healthy cooking oil. As shared by the experts, it is not a question of which oil must be consumed but in how much quantity it is consumed. Same goes for nuts, eat them without worry but only in limited quantities. Moderation is the core mantra of leading a happy and healthy life.”

Dr. Rajesh Kesari, Founder and Director, Total Care Control who moderated the session, placed pertinent questions before Dr. Mohan and directed the webinar in the direction of a information-filled session with key lifestyle takeaways for all the participants.

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New Delhi, 15, September 2020: The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), one of the apex trade associations of India concluded the sixth edition of the ‘Illness to Wellness’ sequence subjected to ‘Lifestyle activities during COVID-19’’. The event saw an illustrious panel of clinical nutritionists hold an active dialogue on a variety of lifestyle-related ailments like insomnia, obesity, diabetes and others being faced by citizens.

Supported by the hygiene brand SAVLON, the programme which promotes healthy living with focus on wellness and preventive health through healthy habits, diet, exercise, and holistic health saw the speakers discuss at great length the importance of eating right, at the right time and getting enough exercise to aide metabolism. They also discussed at great length the high risk of obesity striking a large part of the population owing to current sedentary lifestyles enforced upon us due to COVID-19.

Shedding light on how diabetes is no longer a cosmetic issue but has seeped much deeper into our lives, Ms. Ritika Samaddar, RD, Regional Head, Department of Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics, Max Super Speciality Hospital, said, “Obesity is the new disease that we need to fight. During this time, we have noticed the people who are obese, are the ones who are getting the severity of the COVID-19. The mortality rate is high only in these people. It is very important for us to understand that no longer can obesity be restricted to a cosmetic problem or something that has to do with your looks but to see it as a medical issue. The severity means they often end up in ventilators from which it is very difficult for them to recover, so it is high time we realise how important it is to be healthy. If you are healthy, your immunity is high so your incidence of any kind of infection would be much less. The public should consider obesity as a disease and take all precautions like dietary, lifestyle or medical management to control it.”

Equating healthy living to better immunity, she focused on the need to exercise regularly as unlocking of the country happens in phases. She added that people need to get back to physical activities like walking, jogging, cycling and running even if gyms continue to remain shut as this is going to be the new normal and will continue to be so for the next few months.

Ms. Ishi Khosla, Clinical Nutritionist, Centre For Dietary Counselling, added to the discussion by saying that obese people have 70% higher chances of contracting viral diseases and suffering from severe symptoms. She also elaborated on emerging lifestyle diseases that are being triggered by COVID-19 like insomnia, adverse eating habits caused due to ungainly work hours and excessive screen time.

Speaking on the importance of having magnesium in diet of people suffering from insomnia, Ms Khosla said, “People who are generally healthy are complaining of not being able to sleep. Anxiety and the fear of uncertainty is there for all. There are 2 slices to tackle it, one is diet and another lifestyle interferences. For diets, take food that digests easily. If digestion is good, body relaxes and emphasis other functions. To pacify nervous system, there are particular vitamins and minerals that are generally ignored. Magnesium is an under-diagnosed deficiency. As a supplement it can do a lot of good work for people with anxiety and sleep disorders. It can play numerous roles like diabetes, sleep management and cholesterol.”

Though, both specialists accepted that people should not recklessly opt for synthetic supplements except they get COVID-19 and are medically prescribed. For healthy people, they suggested opting for natural resources of supplements like herbs, vegetables and fruits. Ms Khosla further added that to battle obesity, focus should be laid on consumption of functional foods and increasing fermented food consumption. For non-vegetarians, she suggested balancing meat consumption with anti-inflammatory diet to keep the digestive and gut system healthy.

Sharing a few quick tips on breaking the sedentary nature of working at home, she emphasized the need to balance screen time and chair time, “No matter what we do, we need to keep moving so there should not be more than an hour of constant siting. This should be followed by 10-15 mins of walking or strolling. We need to take that break to get up and stretch. Sitting can lead to inflammation. Same goes for screen times. There has to be a pause button.”

Mr. Anil Rajput, Chairperson, ASSOCHAM CSR Council, reflected on the importance of balancing our lifestyle with the right food and exercise. “Lifestyle behaviour plays an extremely important role even if we discuss it without the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. Everything in life depends on balance and consistency, therefore, the right balance of regular exercise, be it yoga, running or cycling, eating a nutritious diet, one that provides basic vitamins and minerals and having multivitamins along with mental relaxation can go a long way in warding off many diseases,” he said.

Ms. Manjusha Adlakha, Certified Yoga & Wellness Trainer & Art of Living Faculty moderated the event by placing a variety of issues pertaining to different age groups and lifestyle before the expert panelists and making the programme an extremely knowledge-gaining and insightful one.

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New Delhi: The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), one of the apex trade associations of India concluded the third edition of the ‘Illness to Wellness’ series themed ‘Diabetes Management During COVID-19’ with an eminent panel of diabetes experts invited to hold dialogue on the illness. The galaxy of experts highlighted that patients with poorly controlled diabetes with comorbidities are more vulnerable to developing severe symptoms for COVID-19.

Supported by the hygiene brand SAVLON, the programme which promotes healthy living with focus on wellness and preventive health through healthy habits, diet, exercise, and holistic health saw the speakers deliberate on how diabetics in India can best undertake preventive measures at home during COVID-19. India currently stands in second place in number of diabetes cases across the world after China, according to the International Diabetes Foundation Diabetes Atlas. India is said to have approximately 77 million diabetics.

Highlighting on the importance of regulating and monitoring for diabetic patients during COVID-19, (Padma Bhushan) Dr. Ambrish Mittal, Chairman and Head of Endocrinology and Diabetes Department at Max Healthcare said, “A young, newly diagnosed or well controlled fit diabetic is not the same as an old diabetic with poorer control. If you are a well-controlled otherwise fit diabetic, then you really not at too much of risk of getting COVID, however, same protocol as others need to be observed with stringent precautions. If a diabetic does turn out to be COVID positive and asymptomatic then you need to undergo quarantine, if you are symptomatic mildly then you need to be in touch with your doctor and may also require testing from time to time but this can still be managed from home with isolation. If you are highly vulnerable with old age and conditions like kidney diseases, diabetes, heart disease and blood pressure then it is advisable that you get admitted.”

Sugar management and control is of utmost importance:

Taking the discussion further, (Padma Shri) Prof. (Dr.) Anoop Misra, Executive Chairman, Fortis C-DOC, laid focus on regulating and monitoring sugar levels for diabetics during COVID-19. “Stick to your medication, do not leave your medication and check your sugar level constantly. Get your home monitoring kit and use it to monitor your levels. It is not advisable to go to a lab to get tests done right now. Sugar management and control is of utmost importance as this itself will indicate what will be your state if you were to contract COVID, whether it will be mild or severe. This applies to non-diabetics too as many people are gaining weight this time and are inclined to pick-up diabetes,” he said.

Stressing the importance of maintaining a healthy diet that consists of ample supply of proteins, fibres and micro-nutrients, Dr. Misra added, “Do not get into fad diets like intermittent fasting or keto diets. A usual balanced meal with 3-4 servings of fruits and vegetables and green leafy veggies should be enough. People need to also take in plenty of nuts and seeds and to get a good amount of fibres and micronutrients nutrients in their diets.” He then went on to list out food items to be consumed through the day like for breakfast — milk, egg, fruit, oats or dalia, almonds, chia seeds and for lunch and dinner — chapatti, dal, roti, dahi, green leafy vegetables, soya, paneer, chicken or fish.

COVID positive mothers need not stop breastfeeding:

Commenting on how diabetes can be controlled by pregnant women during COVID-19, Dr Hema Divakar, Consultant ObGyn and Medical Director of Divakars Specialty Hospital said, “All pregnancies in India need to be tested for sugar on third and sixth months. What is happening is that their sugar test is being done very late and their level has already gone up which means we are forced to use insulin. As long as you are in control of your sugar level through dietary exercise or other means you are fine. We want to keep the insulin usage to minimal as it adds to the daily trauma and frustration of monitoring that happens in pregnancies. So early detection and using simpler means to control it rather than insulin is the best way to go even in COVID-19 era.”

She further elaborated that COVID positive mothers need not stop breastfeeding. “First step is to always opt for breastfeeding unless the woman is seriously ill. Most pregnant woman who are COVID positive are asymptomatic so same precautions of masking, handwashing, hygiene etc should be maintained and she is allowed to breastfeed which is the best feeding. Unnecessary skin contact like cuddling etc should not be allowed by either the mother or relatives. We allow breast feeding because this virus has not yet been detected in breastmilk,” she said.

Mr Anil Rajput, Chairman, ASSOCHAM CSR Council highlighting the mass prevalence of diabetes in the world said, “One in every six diabetics in the world is an Indian. This is a very serious problem. With the initiation of COVID-19, it has become an explosive and extremely challenging situation that is pushing doctors and researchers to their absolute limit. I think India is doing extremely well so far and with the efforts of frontline healthcare workers and experts who are constantly advising people, our country stands a better chance to overcome these challenging times. People have to be mentally strong to deal with this crisis so that we conquer it, and happy days can come back to our lives once again.”

Dr Rajesh Kesari, founder and director, Total Care Control who moderated the event, highlighted the plight of diabetic patients during COVID-19 and placed interesting and pertinent questions before the expert panel. More information available on www.assocham.org

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• Panel suggests allotting hours of the day to work, family, partner and solitude.
• Establish personal boundaries through solution oriented open conversations with family.
• Experts say, isolating oneself while facing a job loss can be disastrous for mental health.

New Delhi, 27 August, 2020: The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), one of the apex trade associations of India concluded the fourth edition of the ‘Illness to Wellness’ series themed ‘Mental Health and Wellness During COVID-19’. The event saw an expert panel of mental health experts invited to hold dialogue, make suggestions on establishing corrective mental health practices like seeking safe social support, establishing daily routine and indulging in open conversations. Supported by the hygiene brand SAVLON, the programme which promotes healthy living with focus on wellness and preventive health through healthy habits, diet, exercise, and holistic health saw the speakers actively engage on the best steps to establish proactive boundaries and active living in a family.

Effect of COVID-19 on mental health :

Mr. Anil Rajput, Chairman, ASSOCHAM CSR Council, highlighting the effect of COVID-19 on mental health said, “COVID-19 did not just affect the economic, social and individual health of the people, but also mental health in a very extreme way. This has led to an increase in anxiety, fear and impending sense of doom for a large number of otherwise healthy people. With work from home being then new normal, for many months, the whole family ecosystem has been disturbed and created new challenges for people. The reality is a that man is a social animal and when people are unable to engage socially, a mechanism to bring in a new ecosystem to facilitate that communication is extremely important to ensure sound mental health. People also need to rearrange themselves and balance work along with keeping good mental and physical health.”

Speaking on how establishing personal boundaries at home has become both challenging and unavoidable, Dr Murali Rao, Chairman, Department of Psychiatry and Behavorial Neurosciences, Loyola University Medical Centre, Chicago and Medical Director, Mindful TMS Neurocare, said, “This situation has destroyed boundaries. Previously, people used to get up, get dressed, take transportation and go to their workplace. The travel to time used to give them the time needed to shift from home mode to work mode. When they were coming back, it would give them the time to plan and think about home and vice versa. There were clear boundaries. Now with work from home, partners have different work timing, then there are children, cooking and other activities. The timings are messed up, those who organize well are performing well, but majority of people are not organized. No wonder people are ready to go out and go back to organized living.” He also added that they best way to bring an organization to life is by following four thumb rules — adequate sleep, ample exercise, nutritious food intake and stress management.

Dr. Prakriti Poddar, Managing Trustee of Poddar Foundation suggesting a probable breakup of the day for a working individual said, “Account your day, the way you account your money. We have to account the energy and time on our hand. Of course we have a certain 8-9 working hours but there also needs to be one hour with entire family, sometime as a couple together and of course the me time of 30-35 minutes.”

She reiterated how boundaries can be effectively established through open conversations with family. She said, “Most people have never established their personal boundaries in India as they never have a conversation around it. When the pandemic occurred, even working women were put in archaic roles where they felt they were not being understood. They had never had an open conversation about their boundaries. This is why it is important to have a solution focused conversation with family where you may have a problem, but they can also participate in coming up a solution. The family is also part of the solution and this can be enabled by making sure the family and children are also part of the conversation. These will help build boundaries that are catered to by the family.”

Exponential rise in anxiety and depression :

COVID-19 saw large scale job losses across all sectors globally and nationally leading to exponential rise in anxiety and depression owning to the uncertainty created by unemployment. Dr. Shamsher Dwivedee, Chairman Neurosciences and Director of Clinical Services, VimhansNayati Super Specialty Hospital highlighted the importance of being in the company of trusted friends and family when faced by a job loss. “When you are going through a phase where you have lost a job, one step is to not stay and brood alone. Try to be in a company, be with friends who you consider financially and otherwise wise. They will give you the way to get about it. Staying alone when you have lost a job is a recipe for a disaster as the mind will focus on all things negative whereas a wise friend will pull you out of it,” he said.

Speaking about the changes brought about by COVID-19, he said that it has provided a natural lifestyle experiment where people have been granted a relatively laidback lifestyle with less traffic, stress, rage and reduced surge of adrenaline all of which leads to cardiovascular issues.

Dr. Swati Chawla, Psychologist, Health and Wellness expert focusing on healthy steps to take to overcome the challenge of a job loss, said, “People should accept the reality and then work to understand their strengths and weaknesses. They need to move forward by keeping their skills updated, finding out areas they can work on and aim for their next career step. They can list down probable job opportunities and explore roles beyond the scope of their current jobs. There are many organisations who have the portal to help those who have lost their job, the government is also contributing in this respect. People should ideally have help and support from a mental health expert to help balance themselves and work to bounce back.”

She further added that the pandemic has presented the perfect opportunity for organisations to showcase empathetic leadership where they develop a better understanding of the challenges posed by the pandemic on their employee’s lives. For organization planning on downsizing, she suggested that they should responsibly ensure that employees are adequately mentally prepared to lose their jobs and not just throw the news to them as a surprise. The session was moderated by Dr.Divakashi Sharma, Clinical Psychologist, Mindful TNS Neurocare who raised pertinent questions before the panellists to keep the conversation relevant and topical to the discussion. Dr. Sharma also added to the vast professional knowledge shared by the panellists by sharing anecdotes from her experiences as a practicing clinical psychologist.

Also Read: STRESS MANAGEMENT DURING COVID-19

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New Delhi, 17^thJuly 2020:The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), one of the apex trade associations of India has started a national health & wellness awareness program called ‘Illness to Wellness’ to promote healthy living and preventive health through holistic measures. Supported by the hygiene brand SAVLON, the programme was kicked off with a webinar on the topic “Illness to Wellness – The Yoga Way” which saw leading health and yoga experts and recognized industry leaders deliberate on how Yoga could be the answer for mitigating threats caused by viruses and other ailments like the COVID 19.

Ministry of Ayush studying benefits of Yoga for Covid patients:

A key speaker at the session Dr Ishwar V. Basavaraddi, director, Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India,revealed that, “we have deployed 30 instructors in COVID centres run by the Delhi government, who would teach patients yoga for three hours in the morning. Additionally, we have undertaken yoga lessons for COVID patients in the neighbouring 11 districts. We received 500 applications from Department of Science & Technology to understand the beneficial aspects of yoga especially for COVID patients and so are working on three projects with renowned yoga institutes to arrive at findings.”

The programme is being expanded to cover people who have come in contact with COVID patients like family members, police personnel, medical professionals etc. For centuries yoga has proven to be a tool for mental and physical well-being. As the focus on boosting immunity grows due to the widespread adverse health effects caused by the COVID 19 pandemic, the role of this ancient and spiritual practice has become prominent in the journey from illness to wellness. Other eminent speakers emphasised the importance of wellness, not just in challenging times, but in general as a way of life.

While sharing his perspective, Mr Rajiv Chandran, director and office-in-charge, UN Information Centre emphatically stated that United Nations embraced the Yoga and 175 out of 193 countries unanimously agreed to celebrate Yoga as an annual International Day. The COVID–19 pandemic has completely transformed the concept of wellness. Now, wellness is not merely an individual’s concern rather a community strategy and is being viewed in a very broader perspective of people’s relationship with planet and the society.”

Yoga can bring wellness for people at large:

Promoting adoption of correct lifestyle and wellness strategy, (Padma Shri) Guruji Dr. H. R. Nagendra, Chancellor, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana & President, Indian Yoga Association said, “During the present COVID pandemic situations, Yoga – A Way of Life – can bring wellness for people at large. Coronavirus has the potential to infect and affect the human lives, however our immune system is also very strong as WBC (white blood cells) acts a gigantic robust army to defend from many viruses including corona. Stress weakens our immunity system and thus it becomes a victim of virus (corona) attack. He further stated that although one can cure through medicines, vaccinations and other supplements, the solution to strengthen our immunity is Yoga only.”

Sharing his views, Mr Anil Rajput, Chairman, ASSOCHAM CSR Council said, “COVID pandemic has taught human race the hard lesson that medical science may not have readymade answers to emerging health crises. Therefore, we need to go back to the basics by putting focus on preventive measures and healthy living. Illness to Wellness has been timely conceived to bring the spotlight back on aspects we perhaps know at the back of our mind, but many are not able to practice in the rush of a busy life, such as the importance of healthy diet, exercise, hygienic habits, timely preventive practices among others.”

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