Governors Anandiben Patel and Najma Heptulla call for multipronged fight against breast cancer; initiate first Breast Cancer Action Day for Oct 21.

New Delhi, 21st Oct 2020: Adding their weight to the ongoing efforts of increasing awareness around breast cancer, Smt Anandiben Patel, Hon’ble Governor of Uttar Pradesh & Hon’ble Governor of Madhya Pradesh and Dr Najma Heptulla, Hon’ble Governor of Manipur today joined from their respective states to observe the Breast Cancer Action Day, institutionalised by the Integrated Health and Wellbeing (IHW) Council during the ongoing global breast cancer awareness month.

The governors also unveiled a sand sculpture at Puri, Odisha by renowned sand artist Padma Shri Sudarshan Patnaik remotely, marking the day observed as part of IHW Council’s month-long mega virtual conclave on Breast Cancer Action Month. “Cancer is spreading rapidly across the world and more severely in India. It can be treated and cured if detected early. Even men can have it. So, it is important to hold regular screening camps in cities and villages. As the CM of Gujarat, we introduced Mukhyamantri Amrutam Vatsalya Yojana, focusing on gender-budgeting that benefited women the most – more than 1.5 crore women were screened in the health camps under it. We must educate teenage girls right in schools about the health problems who can educate their mothers. I believe, if we care for our mothers, we can save 50% of cancer patients,” says Smt Anandiben Patel, Hon’ble Governor of Uttar Pradesh & Hon’ble Governor of Madhya Pradesh.

“Cancer can strike anyone, irrespective of the age, sex, profession or economic status. About 80% of cancer patients at some stage of their treatment find themselves struggling to cope with financial requirements for treatment. Efforts like the Breast Cancer Action Day today should be held regularly to make people aware of cancer and help the patients survive. I am sure the programme will be a source of encouragement for both patients and survivors and tell them that having cancer does not mean death – people from all walks of life should join such efforts,” says Dr Najma Heptulla, Hon’ble Governor of Manipur. “I am very happy and honoured to be a part of this effort. People must know that cancer is curable and every artist should come forward in their capacity to create awareness,” says Padma Shri awardee Sudarshan Patnaik.

“This is unfortunate that despite growing awareness in the country, one out of every two women diagnosed with breast cancer loses her life to this disease, primarily because of delay in detection and treatment. Therefore, efforts like today’s national Breast Cancer Action Day become more important. It is a momentous occasion not only for our on-going month long mega movement that exhorts people to move from awareness to action to for breast cancer prevention, but also for our nation’s resolve of building a swasth and Ayushamn Bharat, where people are free of diseases that are preventable and empowered with quality healthcare to save lives from diseases that are treatable,” says Mr. Kamal Narayan, CEO, IHW Council.

“Breast cancer is the top cancer in women worldwide and is increasing particularly in developing countries. It is one of the biggest challenges for women’s health. India registered 162,468 new cases of breast cancer in 2018. The majority of cases in India are diagnosed in late stages due to poor awareness,” says Dr. Meera Agnihotri, Founder-President of WWW Foundation.

“The Breast Cancer Action Day is a thoughtful act and adds an impetus to the ongoing campaign of creating awareness. Schemes like Ayushman Bharat have already begun a transformational moment in cancer treatment in India while I believe PM-JAY will address the health education needs,” says Saumil Mody, Oncology General Manager, Novartis Oncology India.

They were joined by Dr. Vipul Aggarwal, Deputy CEO, National Health Authority, Dr. Anil D’Cruz, President, The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), Prof. Ravi Mehrotra, Chief Executive Officer, India Cancer Research Consortium (ICMR-DHR), Saumil Mody, Oncology General Manager, Novartis Oncology India, Dr. Meera Agnihotri, Founder of WWW Foundation, and Dr. Hema Divakar, CEO of ARTIST and FOGSI Ambassador to The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.

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New Delhi, Sep 13, 2020: Recognizing that the fight against a widespread disease like anaemia lacks private initiatives, the Integrated Health and Wellbeing (IHW) Council, a non-profit social impact institution promoting health for all, along with 6 other health and civil society organisations, has announced to observe 21^st March every year as National Anaemia Day to raise awareness and broach dialogues.

The announcement came on the concluding day of Bharat Nutrition Week as a part of a 2-year-long undertaking titled ‘SHAPATH’ by women-driven multisectoral leaders aimed to substantially reduce prevalence of anaemia in India and prevent its return, and was enthusiastically supported by the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), the oldest professional organization representing practitioners of obstetrics and gynaecology in India.

Anaemia continues to affect 50 per cent of women, adolescent girls, and boys in India despite the National Nutritional Anaemia Prophylaxis Programme (NNAPP) beginning in 1970. “With the pandemic, we, as obgyns, are facing the biggest health care challenge of all times, compounded with the issues of gender inequality and access to care, but nevertheless, the essential care for girls and women, has to continue. I congratulate the IHW Council for this timely ‘SHAPATH’ intervention for anaemia care and we will support the initiative in every possible way. FOGSI, this year, has initiated a 90-day campaign from 15^th August for anaemia reduction and is reaching out to the community through multiple platforms. We chose radio campaigns this time and have connected with nearly 1 crore 6 lakh people so far,” says Dr Alpesh Gandhi, President, FOGSI.

Apart from the IHW Council, members of the collective include FOGSI, WWW Foundation, Asian Research and Training Institute for Skill Transfer (ARTIST), Vedanta Nand Ghar, WISH Foundation, WASH alliance and Emcure Pharmaceuticals. The collective will identify the target groups and deploy teams, provide products and equipment support for ‘test-and-cure’ programs in most-affected districts and states with an aim to reinforce the government’s commitment for an ‘anaemia-mukt Bharat’.

“The time to think, talk, and listen is over, it is time for moving from awareness to action and deliver solutions that work. SHAPATH is a strong resolve to make this a national movement and the women leaders involved are determined to make a difference by walking the talk in collaboration with the IHW Council, amplifying and accelerating the pace to reach a meaningful destination. FOGSI champions will continue to extend their support and join to the initiative to reach every girl every woman,” says Dr Hema Divakar, CEO and Chairman, Asian Research and Training Institute for Skill Transfer (ARTIST) and former president FOGSI (2013).

The VISION 2022 of the collective is to bring down the prevalence of iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA) from NFHS(4)-level of 58% to 40% in lactating women, from 50% to 32% in pregnant women, and from 54% to 36% in adolescent girls between 15 and 19 years-old by 2022. Strengthening  the government initiative of anaemia-mukt Bharat,  SHAPATH will walk the path to reach the target set for adolescent boys between 15 and 19 years-old — 11% from current 29% and to 40% from 58% in children between 6 to 59 months A rigorous data collection, documentation, and monitoring & evaluation (M&E) regime will be followed to assess the value of these interventions and collaborate with government authorities to leverage policy framework and contribute in accelerating the national mission to eradicate anaemia by 2022.

“Bharat Nutrition Week was aimed to deliberate on pressing concerns and initiate meaningful actions. I am very happy to be a part of this women-driven anaemia-reduction program through SHAPATH, which aims to accelerate time-bound reduction of anaemia in India. The IHW Council has reached to as many as 20 lakh people through various social media handles in the past 1 month and hopes to cover more ground in the coming days with other initiatives required to ensure health for all,” says Mr. Kamal Narayan, CEO, Integrated Health and Wellbeing (IHW) Council.

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New Delhi, Sep 1, 2020: Highlighting that the POSHAN Abhiyaan will benefit more than 10 crore people, hon’ble Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Ramdas Athawale today said that the government is addressing malnutrition in a ‘mission-mode’. He was delivering the inaugural keynote address at the Bharat Nutrition Week, organised by the Integrated Health and Wellbeing (IHW) Council, a non-profit social impact institution promoting health for all, on the first day of ‘National Nutrition Month’.

“Since March 2018, our government has initiated POSHAN Abhiyaan that directs the attention and efforts to tackle the problem of malnutrition and address it in a mission-mode. This programme will benefit more than 10 crore people, especially women and children. POSHAN Abhiyaan is an intensely community-based programme that involves family members – husbands, father, mothers-in-law and neighbours – and community health care providers to create awareness on key nutrition behaviours. As a society, it is our responsibility to ensure that everyone gets the required nutrition. The war-footing efforts will ensure people even in the remotest part of India get this necessity,” says Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Ramdas Athawale.

“There are two Indias in this India comprising the under-nourished and the over-nourished. Both these types are at an increased risk of morbidity and mortality irrespective of sex and across all ages. The issue of malnourishment should be addressed by inculcating healthy habits in children in and outside schools who can influence their peers, teachers, and parents. Besides, people should be made aware of eating habits on three principles: Balance of nutrition; moderation of portion; and variety of food,” says Dr Harshad Thakur, Director, National Institute of Health & Family Welfare, MoHFW.

“Our approach to nutrition is fragmented and approaches mentioned by the Prime Minister, e.g. nutrition cards and nutrition monitors, are very innovative. We need a shift in our approach to nutrition deficiencies: use a lifecycle approach; bringing together all sectors and ministries; move from food security to nutrition security; focus on family-based interventions; and address the spectrum of nourishment which means one who is ‘over-nourished’ with one ingredient may be under-nourished for another,” says Dr Sanjiv Kumar, Chairperson, Indian Academy of Public Health.

“India’s rank in the Global Hunger Index indicates how prevalent malnutrition is in the country. Jan Bhagidari or public participation is the most important part of our battle against malnutrition. Besides, we must also be mindful towards those who are suffering due to improper nourishment – it is critical to induce a behavioural change in them. The ‘Bharat Nutrition Week’ aims our goal of securing and ensuring access to good food for all,” says Mr. Kamal Narayan, CEO, Integrated Health and Wellbeing (IHW) Council.

Aiming to raise the awareness and discussion around nutrition among children, a fact highlighted by honble Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his ‘Mann ki Baat’ broadcast, the event will have a special segment titled ‘Bharat Nutrition Quiz Show with School Kids’, where students from all over India will participate. Panel discussions with around 100 speakers including government officials of various ministries and institutions; policy experts of WHO and UNICEF; industry leaders, researchers, and medical practitioners will deliberate for over 60 hours on the pressing issues related to availability and access to nutrition. Discussion forums involving leading dieticians, nutritionists, food entrepreneurs and influencers will be held under ‘Good Food Talk Show’ while ‘Healthy Khayega India’, a special live session, will host celebrity chefs.

‘Bharat Nutrition Week’ is being hosted with support from Asian Research and Training Institute for Skill Transfer (ARTIST), WWW Foundation, World of Wellbeing (WOW), and Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI). The event will culminate on 7th September with Bharat Nutrition Awards 2020, honouring organizations, institutions and individuals for their contribution in developing innovative products, conducting new research, grassroot-level initiatives for women, children and elderly people, and spreading awareness and educational programs.

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